Fanfic / Gameplay

Seta Souji and Hanamura Yosuke expected a regular albeit abnormal stay in Ikebukuro for college. Beyond the supernatural occurrences and the unusual sushi, the two weren't expecting much. The rest of the Investigation Team also proceeded with their life, determined to make the best of their resolve.

However, when the body of Seiji Yagiri was found by Orihara Izaya and Heiwajima Shizuo, the Investigation Team reunited to solve the case. Kishitani Shinra accepted the supernatural world with open arms as IT struggled to protect and rescue the intended targets and the newcomers.

Along the way, they uncovered truths of the previous incidents and the universe. In the meantime, Shinra, Celty, Shizuo, and Izaya pulled into the dangerous world and compelled to face truths and bonds of their own. The remaining cast members were left wary and unsure of the confusion surrounding them.

In which the Investigation Team learns the truth isn't what it seems when strange happenings occur in Ikebukuro. Eventual Shizaya, hints of many other pairings. Spoilers for the DRRR anime, novels, and all Persona games.

Gameplay is a Persona 4 and Durarara!! Alternate Universe Crossover written by Azurelitestar. It followed the IT and the DRRR cast's exploration in the large expansive world of Persona.

Additionally, the fic will have a sequel Dasein and a spinoff Bulletproof.

Gameplay was left dormant for two years because the author had graduation, work, and loss of interest in Durarara!! and Persona. However, the author returned on June 3, 2018, with the intent to finish Gameplay and publishing Dasein, no matter how long it will take and will not compromise quality for a rushed finish. Bulletproof, however, was in a currently unknown status if it would be published or not.

Dasein Summary: In which new urban legends are born, perilous Worlds are traversed, and Connections thought to be impossible are forged. Gameplay sequel.

Dasein explored the DRRR cast in their own Persona-style journey in the expansive universe.

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Gameplay Provides Tropes of

#-F

• Acceptable Breaks from Canon: The fic was released before Persona 4: Arena Ultimax although elements of that game would slip through; which means that the author used the popular fan theory Nyarlathotep was the Malevolent Entity. However, the author also takes inspiration from Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth and Persona 4: Dancing All Night so there will be elements in the fics. As for the DRRR end, only up to Volume 9 is considered while 10-13 aren't considered canon to a degree in-fic; like the aforementioned series, it does have elements from later volumes.
  • To be exact, according to the author, events from Volume 10-13 did not happen due to the author knew too little of what happened. The group Izaya got together was disbanded, Masaomi and Saki returned permanently, and the color gangs retreated but the Dollars are more active. As a result, things were unresolved in the DRRR side of things.
• Always Wanted to Say That:
  Shingen: Just remember these words of advice from a responsible, well-liked adult such as myself who has experienced much in life: denial doesn't do you much, if any, good. It's because of that that things like Shadows exist, after all.
  Namie: ......You're only saying that because you've been wanting to say such a line to someone.

• Animal Motifs: There's a notable butterfly motif attached to Psyche as a Persona, Mengdie which meant that Izaya has that motif as well. Considering what attaches to a butterfly in the Persona series...
• Beneath the Mask: Well, Durarara!! is crossing over a series that has Jungian psychology as a central theme; What do you expect?
• Big Bad: The Malevolent Entity or known as Nyarlathotep
  • The Dragon: Nyarlathotep has an accomplice,.
• Break the Haughty: Izaya. Namie to a lesser degree.
• Boss Battle: Naoto, Yukiko, Yosuke, and Rise fought against Shadow Izaya. Chie, Kanji, Teddie, and Souji fought against Shadow Shizuo. Souji, Naoto, Yosuke, Rise, Celty, and new Persona-users Shizuo and Izaya fought against Nyarlathotep.
• Buffy Speak: for the terminology of the Persona series. Anri called the Velvet Room, the blue room at one point.
• The Cameo: Katsuya Suou appeared as Chie's superior and Naoto's friend.
• Celtic Mythology / Norse Mythology: Fitting for the DRRR cast.
• Character Development: Aside from showing IT's character development from the games, Shizuo, Izaya, Shinra, Celty, Anri, and Mikado changed from the ongoing events.
• Chekhov's Gag: The Midnight Channel program of Shadow Izaya and Shizuo having sex, surprisingly. At first, it seemed comedic with Erika's insistence and others' exasperation. However, when Shizuo learned about it, he seemed seriously started thinking of pursuing something with Izaya.
• Continuity Nod / Call-Back: References past games and DRRR events.
  • The Velvet Room's design as a cabaret in Persona and Persona 2 returned.
  • Neo Featherman R appeared yet again as Izaya's doorbell.
  • Satomi Tadashi Drugstore was referenced as the shop IT uses prior to their mission to rescue Izaya.
  • How IT in a matter of life and death situation summoned their Personas in reality which is similar to how the Persona-users in Persona 2 and Persona first awakened theirs.
  • Shingen previously traveled to Tatsumi Port Island to research Apathy Syndrome and knew enough information he planned to give Izaya the Evoker.
  • Katsuya Suou's reminisce of Persona 2 regarding his group and himself.
  • The reference that the Apathy Syndrome is linked to the lunar cycle was Persona 3 Arcana Shadow Bosses.
  • Izaya's second rejection of his Shadow was a nod to Mitsuo's.
  • Shingen held a gun at Namie. Namie pointed this out with distaste. However, the gun in question was, in fact, the Evoker.
  • Izaya, when he was kidnapped from his dungeon, caught a glimpse of the Great Seal.
  • The Persona Game. Shizuo and Izaya played the game, unwittingly gaining latent Persona potential that manifested as their Charles Atlas Superpower.
  • Apparently, Izaya's Near-Death Experience situation was similar to Nanako's
  • The return of the gag glasses! Both Shinra and Shizuo wore those glasses as a joke from IT before they were given the appropriate ones.
  • An interlude titled "The Lovey-Dovey Prattles of an Underground Doctor", calling back the self-same chapters in the translated light novels and used Shinra's voice only.
  • Shizuo's battle with Saika. As it turned out, Shizuo partially awakened his Persona then because he started to accept his Shadow but not by much to actually gain a Persona.
• Decon-Recon Switch: In one chapter, Souji was sorry about the Social Link system by the time his friends can see the Velvet Room. His friends reassured him that the connections were genuine and did not blame him, saying that they are friends regardless.
  • The fic also addressed the protagonists' entrance into the Velvet Room from the outsider's perspective. His friends, while unaware, don't press the issue which Shizuo thought was strange for the friend was keeping a secret. Even when the rest of the IT discovered the truth, they don't mind since their reasoning was close to the truth anyway (they thought he was thinking strategies which are true to some extent as the protagonist was selecting/fusing Personae).
• Demoted to Extra: Not to an excessive degree (some DRRR characters doesn't make a physical appearance at all) but the main characters on the DRRR side are Mikado, Anri, Masaomi, Shizuo, Izaya, Celty, and Shinra while the supporting role goes to Namie, Mika, and Shingen. Mairu, Kururi, Tom and Simon does play a role but it's more confidant and a hand in Shizuo and Izaya's Character Development than knowing there is something big in their midst.
• The Determinator: Shizuo made sure that he befriended Izaya and reached out to Tom in the course of the final arc.
• Disc-One Final Dungeon / Spoiled by the Format: After the rescue of Izaya and Izaya contracting Apathy Syndrome, the fact that Izaya's Wall Dungeon burned down, a week of peace and looks like it would end.
• Distressed Dude: Izaya. He was inactive for two arcs as a result. To make it worse, Nyarlathotep takes his form to make Izaya The Scapegoat.
  • Distress Ball: As it turns out, Izaya went charging in, knowing full well what the situation might hold; he even thought there might be a supernatural creature as the perp but he still went in anyway. Shinra and Namie (already speechless Izaya doesn't know everything) called him out for this. Izaya does admit it, just not aloud. Tropes Are Not Bad and justified are at play here because the DRRR cast including Izaya vastly underestimated the world they are heading into with the notable exceptions of Shingen and Shinichi Tsukumoya.
• Dungeon Crawling: Shizuo and Shinra experienced it firsthand.
• Exposition Party / Exposition Cut: Time and time again, each side of the crossover gives the rundown of events they experienced. Justified as the other group have no idea. Notably, Naoto telling the story of Izaya and her meeting and falling-out. It's less a party and more of a gathering to explain the crucial parts.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Namie thought Izaya testing the Evoker (which for anyone who does not know, involved shooting oneself with a gun-like object, basically looking like suicide in order to summon a Persona) was horrid, even for a man she detested. It was only because Shingen wanted to carry through with his shady plan was one of the reasons she was going along with it.
• Eviler than Thou: Nyarlathotep
• Fandom Nod: Yosuke's previous handle was called "Disco Ninja Frog". Shizaya's alternates/alter-egos that appeared as Shadow Fragments from their originals.
• Failure Is the Only Option: For Izaya to even awaken his Persona in the first place. Not only his plan was ruined, Nyarlathotep clearly love breaking him. Additionally, the people he knows like his sisters, Shinra and Shizuo bonded with him, slowly breaking his resolve to remain the Ineffectual Loner.
• Flashback: Shizuo and Izaya received this after confronting their Shadows and/or rescue. Some of their flashbacks include remembering they played the Persona Game, their Forgotten First Meeting, and seeing something otherworldly such as the Great Seal.
• Fish out of Water: The DRRR cast has no idea what kind of a world they are heading into, leading to underestimation of the horrors that entails. As the cast learn more of the world, a handful realized they always have been part of it. They all got better. On the P4's side, it's downplayed; While they were surprised, they took it pretty well and acclimated within moments.
  • Celty, Shinra, and Shizuo initially brushed it off because Izaya and Shizuo are the two most dangerous men in Ikebukuro. People had tried to kill them before. However, as the three learned and experienced it for themselves especially Celty who had a bad feeling, they realized their error.
  • As discussed in Distress Ball above, Izaya went in despite the possibility of a supernatural perp, forced to confront his Shadow, and nearly died in the process. He sent to the Midnight Channel and the Sea of Souls by Nyarlathotep.
  • Anri was thrown headfirst. When she wanted some to follow Souji and Yosuke, they disobeyed and attacked to her horror. Then she was one of the few who didn't have their memories of Izaya erased, went into the Velvet Room just to help rescue Izaya and receive a Tarot reading of the future, went into the Midnight Channel, and forced to confront the accomplice.
  • Namie had Mika's throat slashed in revenge for the death despite the fact that even Izaya can see Mika was not the true culprit. She only had so much data to go on, even with IT and Shingen filling in stuff she needed to know.
• Forgotten First Meeting: Shizuo met Izaya when they were young, coincidentally also because of Shinra.
• Foregone Conclusion: Izaya will get his Persona which means that he accepts his Shadow; the author made it clear to the readers. Considering a sequel and a spin-off in the works, Nyarlathotep was defeated. Given the existence of future works, two DRRR Persona-users known so far (Shizuo and Izaya) with a Wild Card in the midst, more Persona-users from the DRRR side will come.
• Foreshadowing: Hoo boy...
  • The very fact that most if not all of Ikebukuro's supernatural quirks stem directly from the Persona world has been hinted multiple times.
  • Shingen's involvement with Persona 3 has direct results.
  • Igor gave Anri and Celty a Tarot reading that came true in more ways than one as they bore witness later on.
  • Shinra and Celty noticed Souji and Yosuke was unaffected by Saika's slashing as well as their supposed Healing Factor. They only saw this happened to Shizuo and in Shinra's case, Ruri. Rightfully so Shizuo has potential.
• Fortune Teller: Igor gave a reading to Anri and Celty in a Celtic Cross Spread. The author chose specifically the spread, simply for the word Celtic.
• From Bad to Worse: Each arc gives an increasingly bad series of events for IT and DRRR characters alike. Igor gave the ominous Tarot reading of future events that all came true in more ways than the DRRR characters think.

G-R

• Gambit Pile Up: The final arc has a bunch of them. Some failed and others were successful to a degree.
• How We Got Here: A minor example. The story began when Gameplay wrapped up, revealing the DRRR's Wild Card.
• Killed Off for Real: Seiji Yagiri and Hisano
• Locked Out of the Loop: A majority of the DRRR cast has no idea what is happening including Namie and Izaya themselves.
• Mad Doctor: Shingen, of course. It's heavily implied that since his trip to Tatsumi Port Island, he learned enough of Shadows, Personas, and anything related to it. Given he planned to give Izaya the Evoker, he was aware of Shizuo and Izaya's potential.
• Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot: Seiji's murder has IT, Shinra, Celty, Shizuo, and Izaya thinking there might be another killer. It ends up bigger than any DRRR characters thought; IT was not surprised of the scale and more worried about the fact the villain is making his moves.
• Mission Control / The Navigator / Sensor Character: Izaya. Like Chidori, he can jam communications.
  • Missing Mission Control: On their mission to save Izaya, Rise's connection was cut off temporarily by Izaya's Shadow and she was knocked out. She was again knocked out by Nyarlathotep.
• Modern AU Fic: Like the anime, the fic updated the early 2000s to the early 2010s, specifically 2011 where Persona 4 took place and in the current story 2013.
• The Needs of the Many: Discussed as Izaya being rescued by Celty and Anri, who met with Izaya's psychology professor at Raira Uni and Igor.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Namie, due to her lack of knowledge and misguidance, incapacitated Mika to the point she is extremely vulnerable for Nyarlathotep and his accomplice.
• Not Me This Time: Izaya was not the true culprit or even helping along with the Evil Plan because he had no clue what was going on. All he wanted was to regain control from the Big Bad who seemed determine to Break the Haughty and make him The Scapegoat.
• O.C. Stand-in: Shizuo and Izaya's Shadow Fragments or known in Fanon as their alternates/alter-egos. They're representative of their original's traits, complete with exaggerations; the author made sure of that playing with common fanon interpretations.
• Oddly Common Rarity: Souji suggested another Wild Card was in Ikebukuro, saying it might not be as rare as they thought. Considering two years previous IT met Aigis who was also a Wild Card and three years later where there were 2 Wild Cards, he's right.
• Original Flavor: The author had IT use a similar chatroom in DRRR. Some chapters such as that dedicated to Shinra and Anri's Point of View or sections mimicked the original text of DRRR.
• Properly Paranoid: IT and anyone related to the Persona-verse like Katsuya Suou. IT kept in mind the idea of a supernatural killer who may or may not is planning The End of the World as We Know It beyond the scope of murder. Katsuya Suou allowed Chie to leave because he knows just what kind of crazy the Persona-users have to deal with in order to save people. This is in stark contrast with cast of DRRR.
• Put on a Bus: Kanji, Yukiko, Teddie, and Chie was on this partway in the transitional arc between the second and third arc. This left Shizuo and Izaya filling in when the time came.
• Quirky Town: Ikebukuro. While it is nowhere near Sumaru City's level, it was enough to made comment by residents and outsiders. The cast was aware that the Midnight Channel would just end up as the latest attraction to the odd things and the residents would take it as normal. Shinichi later pointed out the city has a temporal and spatial instability.
• Reality Warper: For a time, the memories of Izaya Orihara in Ikebukuro was wiped by Nyarlathotep.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Shizuo and Izaya's Shadows gleefully does this, shown in Flashback snippets for Izaya's case. However, Izaya's insecurities are still broadcasted to Naoto, Shinra, Rise, Yosuke, and Yukiko. According to Naoto, Izaya does this to her in their falling-out.
• Red Herring: In the first arc, IT and the DRRR characters in the know thought that Shizuo and Izaya are the targets. In reality, Izaya was the only one to be thrown into the TV; Discussed in one chapter too. That is true as Nyarlathotep does have plans for them both. In the second arc, Shizuo blamed Izaya although he was not the true villain of the story.
• The Reveal: Let's just list...
  • Every supernatural in Ikebukuro has a reason for their existence, originating from the massive world of Persona.
    • Saika is revealed to be a Demon, a being created by human thought
  • Shizuo's Super-Strength & Healing Factor was a result of playing the Persona Game, unlocking his potential. Likewise, it implied Izaya played the same game, having potential that Shinichi Tsukumoya noted.
• Revenge: Namie enacted revenge, blaming Mika for Seiji's death.
• RPG Mechanics 'Verse: There were mentions of Soul Power and stats among the Persona-users aside from the obvious magic.
• Rule of Symbolism:
  • Izaya has a Wall Dungeon complete with potato sacks, crates, bloody chains, floors and rooms with different variations. It represents his self-inflicted enclosure as well as his unwillingness to let others into his heart.
  • Izaya and Shizuo's combined dungeon was a forested easily navigable labyrinth with rivers as landmarks. It represents how they chose the easy way out or not facing their issues at all.
  • Shizuo's Berserk Shadow resembled a Minotaur and bestial in form. it represents how he always see himself as a monster from the point of view of others and himself.

S-Y

• Shapeshifter: Nyarlathotep, so far, took the forms of Izaya and Mika.
• Ship Tease: Shizaya. Not only their blurry Shadows appeared to have sex, but Shizuo and Izaya's Shadow Fragments get along quite well with varying degrees of success. Psyche flat-out stated to Tsugaru that they will meet again in the Sea of Souls; Psyche and Tsugaru are the more cuddly and affectionate outwardly than their other counterparts. Later on, when we learn Shizuo met Izaya at a young age, he did not deny the love interest claim when talking with Shinra (Shinra did not know the detail); he was downright interested and contemplative when Erika explained the said Midnight Channel showing. There are smatterings of Souji X Yosuke, Naoto X Kanji, and Chie X Yukiko.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Seiji Yagiri. His death not only unleashed a terrible event in Ikebukuro but a good one. It led to Shizuo and Izaya's Character Development, Celty finding her origins, and Shinra beginning to reach out to people other than Celty.
• Sympathy for the Devil: Shizuo, Shinra, and Celty know that Izaya has this coming for awhile and perhaps even deserve this punishment. But that doesn't mean that they could stand to see him, weak and not Izaya at all and still deserve sympathy. When they met the Eviler than Thou Nyarlathotep however...
• Tarot Motifs: As the story went forward, the DRRR cast eventually given their own Arcana.
• Tennis Boss / Puzzle Boss: Berserk Shadow Izaya. Befitting of the Troll.
• There Are No Therapists: To be fair, the readers learned there's a Psychology teacher at Raira University; Souji's a Psych Major; Izaya studied psychology.
• Traumatic Superpower Awakening: Both Shizuo and Izaya were clearly broken/messed-up from the society/world they lived in. It stands to reason why they had potential in the first place. While Shizuo received his Persona just like the IT, Izaya received his another way.
• Trick Boss: As it turns out, the flea Mini-Boss was an extension of Izaya's Shadow who scans Souji, Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, and Rise for information. Yosuke and Chie noted how easy it was.
• Tsundere: During the course of the fic, Shizuo, Celty, and Shinra, even those (his sisters, Masaomi, Mikado, etc.) realizing Izaya's missing have this relationship with Izaya. Izaya returned the favor with his own Tsundere attitude. They all got better.
  • Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: In the transitional phase of the third arc and parts of the second arc, Shinra does truly care about Izaya; Shizuo was annoyed about his apathy when it was first known that Izaya was ill and Celty was sad about Shinra's behavior towards Izaya's ill-health. Psyche blatantly stated that Izaya cares for Shinra no matter what he says and won't admit. Eventually, Izaya's Character Development kicks in.
    • It's subtle but it's clear that Kururi and Mairu do love their brother when he went missing for over two weeks and tried to search for him. Similarly, in the chatroom, many shown concern for Izaya when he haven't been seen for awhile.
• Unwitting Pawn: Namie and Izaya in Nyarlathotep's grand scheme.
• Urban Legends: Made up a large of both series. If the sequel summary is anything about, it's more to come in Ikebukuro.
• Villains Act, Heroes React: In each arc. The third arc was when certain characters began to make their moves against Nyarlathotep with varying results of success or outright failure.
• Wham Line: Quite a few. Some surprises might not be that whammy (to readers who know the Persona series like the actual villain of the fic being Nyarlathotep) but it would certainly be The Reveal for characters in-fic. Even certain descriptions counts as this.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Namie is by no means a hero. When she revealed she was the one who had Mika's throat slashed, Celty, Anri, and IT called her out for her misguided Revenge against Mika, who has no control over the events. For added bonus, Shingen also called her out because she is still up on her high horse, which by then makes her realize what she's done. To make it worse, her actions made it much more better for Nyarlathotep and his accomplice.
• Word of God: The author gives answers willingly to an extent (Izaya will get his Persona; Shizaya will have a relationship, it's just a slow development; etc.) in comment sections.
• Worldbuilding: The fic reconciled headcanons and speculations with canon. It doesn't really help that the characters have perspectives thus their view on something is likely to be wrong. This trope is more common among the DRRR characters, who have no idea what they are going into, and IT just wanted answers.
• You Can't Thwart Stage One: The IT cannot stop Izaya from being kidnapped and contracting Apathy Syndrome. They cannot stop Izaya's Shadow and Shizuo's Shadow from splitting. They cannot stop Shizuo from rejecting his Shadow. They cannot stop Izaya from rejecting his Shadow again. They cannot stop Nyarlathotep until the final arc.
• Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: Izaya was in the Sea of Unconsciousness after he was stolen away by Nyarlathotep from his Dungeon.
• You Didn't Ask: The IT didn't reveal all the crucial to Celty and the rest of the DRRR cast because It Seemed Trivial at the time. They did not relay gods and demons exist; other Persona-users exists and one group used the Evoker; The End of the World as We Know It was frequent, and so forth.
• You Will Know What to Do: Mikado received a mysterious package and so-called walkthrough from Izaya with this.

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