In the first place, it was only something I began to wear after certain events back home. Wouldn't you say that phantom thieves shouldn't broadcast their true identities too obviously?
I am not certain how much competition we would be.
What I... what my group targets at home is quite unusual. Back there, people knowing who we are would be dangerous, so my sense of caution remained when I arrived here.
That holds true for all thieves. The world at large doesn't particularly like us - we are criminals, after all. All that separates us from petty robbers are our aesthetics, if you are to separate us at all. Though perhaps you've another degree of separation, with your magic and your special targets.
[Listen Lupin, Yusuke has started coming around since no-one else is hiding their other powers and such... also he wants to try to speak to who amounts to a fellow phantom thief.]
[ and just like that, he's off! Though he feels like he should be making a flashy entrance - as usual - he has nothing to steal from Fox or anything, so he simply starts heading over, cane tucked under one arm, keeping his eyes out expectantly for his fellow thief. "Meet up halfway" probably meant he'd be popping up sooner rather than later, right? ]
[Indeed he will pop up sooner rather than later--though he approaches fairly regularly, no fancy outfit or anything just regular ol Yusuke in his regular clothes. He's gazing distractedly at buildings as he passes by them, but quickly focuses on Lupin when he sees him from afar.
Then, once he's close enough, he bows his head.]
Thank you for meeting with me.
[No need not to be polite and Lupin was accommodating even if Yusuke's going to divulge some of his own past and such to him! He really does want to see what he can learn from this man eventually... as the original phantom thief.] There is a bench just over there, would you like to sit?
Oh! You really came. Good morning, Fox, [ he replies cheerfully, tipping his hat, as a gentleman does - although he seems fairly casual about the entire thing. Yusuke is excused from some of his flowery theatrics on account of not being a cop or a cute girl. Sorry, Yusuke. ]
Lead the way. This Arsène Lupin is your humble guest for the moment.
[Yusuke acts a little more formally, more politeness behind the way he nods or turns to lead Lupin along. He's also okay with not being the victim of Lupin's flowery theatrics okay!!]
Of course. Just right here.
[He's settling onto a seat on the bench, hands resting neatly on his knees.]
I have... come to terms to that it is not as important to keep my identity so secret here. I truly was surprised when I saw how many people here just used their abilities openly.
[He shakes his head wonderingly.]
Of course, I will not share matters that aren't my own, but nevertheless I am open to answering questions you have.
Ha! We're on the same page, then. I'm the same way... Well, as far as it won't get me in trouble. If I went around telling everyone I was a thief, I bet a fair lot of them wouldn't want to talk to me anymore.
[ even if he's thought of as a "heroic" thief, according to Minato - that only applied to people who know who he was. ]
[That's a straightforward question to answer... and he looks very serious. It's a big deal to him, being a phantom thief, everything that they've done. He's always carried on with a purpose in mind.]
...It's for justice. We act on behalf of those who cannot act and, in that process, I hope that we have given courage to those people.
[He's completely solemn, as he folds his hands in his lap. Explaining the rest is where it gets sticky, but he's content to convey his thiefy intentions to Lupin.]
[ he looks over at Yusuke rather intently, as if trying to gauge how serious he is with that answer. He's also wondering if he knows Akira; it seems like far too much of a coincidence that two teenage boys from Japan are both "phantom thieves" with the same motivations. But he's been doing his job for too long to carelessly divulge Akira's secret to someone who might not know. ]
That's a good reply. [ a smile; he leans back on his hands on the bench. ] Where I'm from, I'm the only "phantom thief," as you call it. My circumstances were pretty unusual, so I'd never even considered that others might try and do the same thing I do. Kind of a funny feeling, having a colleague.
I never anticipated becoming what I am now. But... my companions truly saved me. Freed me, if you will. So I wished to do the same for them and for others.
[He's still a little struck by Lupin calling him a colleague... and honoured, of course. He's talking to the Original. So, with rapt interest, he turns a little to regard him intently.] Would you be all right with speaking to me a little about your circumstances? I would not ask to hear anything you didn't wish to talk about, but I am curious.
[ that basically confirms it - not necessarily that Akira is one of them, but that there's a group of them running around, stealing things. It's simultaneously hard to imagine - the very nature of being a gentleman thief meant basking in the spotlight, and he can't imagine multiples running around at once - and easy to see how having a team would make heists easier.
Yusuke's question is pretty normal after what Lupin just said, but he smiles wryly anyway, shaking his head slightly. ]
Ah... They're not average, but they're not that interesting, either. I'm just your average petty criminal at heart. [ It's an obvious deflection. He doesn't like talking about himself that much; his past kind of sucked, and he's moved past it almost entirely at this point. ] There are good people that the law can't help, and there are villains the law can't hurt. But a thief doesn't care about laws; he can do what he wants. I just happen to want to even the playing field. Like you.
[Obvious deflection indeed, but Yusuke doesn't push or even do much to acknowledge it. He said he wouldn't ask about anything Lupin didn't want to hear, after all, and he very visibly reacts to the words Lupin says anyway.
His look is discerning like he needs to make sure he's being honest, but... then he nods firmly.]
Yes. There are too many of those who can trample on others without any repercussions...
Exactly. I just can't picture standing idly by while they suffer.
[ so Yusuke is a phantom thief, and a phantom thief is, indeed, someone like himself - a thief who steals not (only) for money and to survive, but to change society.
That leaves one other question. ]
There's one other thing I need to ask you. That thing you called out before - that was a Persona, wasn't it?
[It's heartening to learn that someone like Arsène Lupin has a similar mindset and modus operandi to them. Yusuke thinks of it a little as fulfilling the legacy of phantom thieves, started long before they took up the mantle.]
Yes. That's correct. Kamu Susano-o.
[He tips his head as though to say what about that, Lupin.]
[ his guess was right! It wasn't exactly a long shot, but still. Unlike Orpheus, that name isn't one he recognizes - then again, his knowledge of Japanese culture is basic at best, so he doesn't take that to mean anything in particular. Lupin nods, then gives a wry little smile. ]
You must have an easier time of it with something like that helping you out.
[ if he could summon giant pillars of ice... well, he can't think of anything off the top of his head, but he's sure it would be useful in some heist!! ]
There are a few other people here with that same power you have. Did you know that? Not me, of course, but I've met some others.
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momijizukamori
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Your use of "relatively" gives me some pause. Suffice to say that I am fine; I won't be outsmarted by my own shadow.
[ it totally tripped him but nobody saw except minato so it DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!! ]
No matter that. I happened to notice you weren't wearing your mask last we met. I suppose there wasn't much to be stolen from a few harpies?
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It is not something that I wear at all times...
In the first place, it was only something I began to wear after certain events back home. Wouldn't you say that phantom thieves shouldn't broadcast their true identities too obviously?
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But you do fancy yourself a "phantom thief." It seems the competition in my field of work is growing quite quickly.
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What I... what my group targets at home is quite unusual. Back there, people knowing who we are would be dangerous, so my sense of caution remained when I arrived here.
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It is rather complicated to explain in text. Perhaps I will be able to do so better in person, if you would be all right with that?
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I would never turn down such a polite invitation. You're in Bluo, I presume?
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That is right. We can meet up halfway.
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I'll see you shortly, then. À tout de suite.
[ and just like that, he's off! Though he feels like he should be making a flashy entrance - as usual - he has nothing to steal from Fox or anything, so he simply starts heading over, cane tucked under one arm, keeping his eyes out expectantly for his fellow thief. "Meet up halfway" probably meant he'd be popping up sooner rather than later, right? ]
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Then, once he's close enough, he bows his head.]
Thank you for meeting with me.
[No need not to be polite and Lupin was accommodating even if Yusuke's going to divulge some of his own past and such to him! He really does want to see what he can learn from this man eventually... as the original phantom thief.] There is a bench just over there, would you like to sit?
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Lead the way. This Arsène Lupin is your humble guest for the moment.
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Of course. Just right here.
[He's settling onto a seat on the bench, hands resting neatly on his knees.]
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You're more open about this than I thought you'd be. It's refreshing.
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[He shakes his head wonderingly.]
Of course, I will not share matters that aren't my own, but nevertheless I am open to answering questions you have.
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[ even if he's thought of as a "heroic" thief, according to Minato - that only applied to people who know who he was. ]
Putting that aside... My main question is "why?"
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[That's a straightforward question to answer... and he looks very serious. It's a big deal to him, being a phantom thief, everything that they've done. He's always carried on with a purpose in mind.]
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[ is there a difference? in lupin's mind, yes. ]
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[He's completely solemn, as he folds his hands in his lap. Explaining the rest is where it gets sticky, but he's content to convey his thiefy intentions to Lupin.]
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[ he looks over at Yusuke rather intently, as if trying to gauge how serious he is with that answer. He's also wondering if he knows Akira; it seems like far too much of a coincidence that two teenage boys from Japan are both "phantom thieves" with the same motivations. But he's been doing his job for too long to carelessly divulge Akira's secret to someone who might not know. ]
That's a good reply. [ a smile; he leans back on his hands on the bench. ] Where I'm from, I'm the only "phantom thief," as you call it. My circumstances were pretty unusual, so I'd never even considered that others might try and do the same thing I do. Kind of a funny feeling, having a colleague.
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I never anticipated becoming what I am now. But... my companions truly saved me. Freed me, if you will. So I wished to do the same for them and for others.
[He's still a little struck by Lupin calling him a colleague... and honoured, of course. He's talking to the Original. So, with rapt interest, he turns a little to regard him intently.] Would you be all right with speaking to me a little about your circumstances? I would not ask to hear anything you didn't wish to talk about, but I am curious.
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Yusuke's question is pretty normal after what Lupin just said, but he smiles wryly anyway, shaking his head slightly. ]
Ah... They're not average, but they're not that interesting, either. I'm just your average petty criminal at heart. [ It's an obvious deflection. He doesn't like talking about himself that much; his past kind of sucked, and he's moved past it almost entirely at this point. ] There are good people that the law can't help, and there are villains the law can't hurt. But a thief doesn't care about laws; he can do what he wants. I just happen to want to even the playing field. Like you.
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His look is discerning like he needs to make sure he's being honest, but... then he nods firmly.]
Yes. There are too many of those who can trample on others without any repercussions...
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[ so Yusuke is a phantom thief, and a phantom thief is, indeed, someone like himself - a thief who steals not (only) for money and to survive, but to change society.
That leaves one other question. ]
There's one other thing I need to ask you. That thing you called out before - that was a Persona, wasn't it?
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Yes. That's correct. Kamu Susano-o.
[He tips his head as though to say what about that, Lupin.]
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You must have an easier time of it with something like that helping you out.
[ if he could summon giant pillars of ice... well, he can't think of anything off the top of his head, but he's sure it would be useful in some heist!! ]
There are a few other people here with that same power you have. Did you know that? Not me, of course, but I've met some others.
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