"My... It's taken far too long. Tell me... Who is going to avenge her if you don't? Forgiving him was never the option... Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within... I am thou, thou art I... We can finally forge a contract... There you go... Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself. Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my strength."
Carmen is a fictive female gypsy created by Prosper Mérimée. She first appeared in Mérimée's eponymous novella that was first written and published in 1845. The novella was adapted into a variety of different genres, most notably the opera Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet which diverges in significant points from Mérimée's original story.
Whatever the version, Carmen is generally depicted as a classic femme fatale who would take advantage of her beauty and charm to make men fall for her, but quickly break the relationship once she is bored of her wooer, and then she looks for her next victim. Carmen is also usually seen smoking tobacco because she had once worked in a tobacco factory. She is later slain by a spurned ex-lover, driven to a jealous rage after she leaves him. Though she knew he would be fated to kill her, she declared that she would rather die than allow herself to be bound to the will of another, and that "Carmen will always be free."
"A gypsy thief from the novel by Merimee, which became famous through the opera by Bizet. She is a femme fatale who is beautiful but very capricious."
—Persona 5 compendium
Carmen is the Initial Persona of Ann Takamaki. When Ann is captured in Kamoshida's Palace, bound to an X frame and almost executed by the subordinate shadows of Shadow Kamoshida, she regrets rejecting the real Kamoshida's sexual advances, which is the very cause of her only friend, Shiho Suzui, being targeted by Kamoshida, and her attempting suicide to escape him. The protagonist and Carmen encourage her to stop grieving, making Ann determined to let loose her suppressed rage to take revenge on Kamoshida, awakening Carmen to break her free from the bondage.
Carmen's skill roster primarily consists of Fire skills with some healing and support. Carmen's Dekaja will allow her to dispel enemy buffs, with its early access proving reliable throughout the game. Carmen’s final skill is Blazing Hell, which deals severe Fire damage to all foes, and is the strongest magic attack learned by the entire party, and can deal insane damage when preceded by Concentrate.
Carmen returns as Ann's Persona once again. Since Ultimate Personas are absent from Strikers, Carmen now owns Hecate's element affinities: Nullifies Fire and resists Elec attacks.
"My, it's taken far too long. Tell me, who is going to avenge her if you don't? I am thou, thou art I. We can finally forge a contract." (Upon awakening)
"*chuckle* That's right. Nothing can be resolved with restraining yourself. If you understand, I'll gladly lend my strength." (Upon awakening)
Carmen's dress is designed to resemble a rose which often represents the femme fatale personality; beautiful, but deadly/dangerous. Also referenced in Ann's quote after an All-Out Attack, "A beautiful rose has thorns!"
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