❪ introlog: #2 ❫ THE CALM.

[natha]

OVERFLOW

You have spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Perhaps you’ve made some friends (or maybe an enemy or two). Either way, you aren’t expected to spend all of your time on the Station. El Nysa needs you, after all, and you promised you’d help the planet thrive. Are you ready? Submit any AC eligible thread of participating in this log's prompts for Two (2) Olympia REP points HERE. TRAVEL LIGHT     You're really lucky, new refugee. Because of the efforts of those that came before you, your own descent into El Nysa will be quick and relatively painless. You get to reap the benefits of others' experience. Those that came before you are all well-versed in the art of teleportation now, and descending into El Nysa is simply a concentrated thought away. A teleporter has been placed in the common areas to help the new refugees descend, but for this first time, you're going to need a little guidance. You're going to need to take the hand of someone who has been on El Nysa for a while now and learn the ropes. Hold on tight, Refugee, and don't be afraid when the blinding light hits you. The actual journey will feel like a sudden whiplash— painless, but sudden, and maybe a little nauseating. Keeping your balance may be difficult, and it’s possible you might end up toppling onto your poor partner. Hopefully you’re at least thankful. You have landed in a back alley in the Residential District of Olympia. HOME SWEET HOME     Immediately, you notice that everything you've been told about El Nysa is true. There are people of all races here, and although no one bats an eye at your appearance as you enter the district, a member of the Royal Guard asks for your passport. They have a keen eye, and can tell that although you may be a new refugee to their city, they've never seen you before. Certain rumors of an outside force making preparations to do some major damage has them particularly on edge. It's a good thing the Orbiters made sure you have an Olympian passport ready to go. You present it, and with a small nod, the Guard says nothing more and slaps a patch on your chest; to your surprise, it reads: Hello! My name is ________________! I am in House #___! Are you my housemate? ... No matter how much you try, there's no removing this sticker. "It'll come off tomorrow," says the guardkeep. "Lots of refugees here, limited housing. It's an easy way to get to know the people you're living with. Though, if you ask me, why are we accepting so many foreigners when so many want to watch this city burn? Well, I don’t give the orders." If someone greets you, the message on the patch will magically change: Secretly, I _____, _____, and _____! What are yours? There's no telling how they'd known these things, but it likely has to do with Zasere. AGAIN. It may be a good idea to get situated in your new home and set down some ground rules with your roommates. There is also, of course, much of Olympia to explore. FLONA COVE     Word around the city is that one very cute and enthusiastic Olympian, You Watanabe, has been asking around earnestly for the nearest place to find some coastal fun. It didn't take long before a few locals pointed her in the direction of Flona Cove. Maybe it’s a good idea to check out the area. There are only a few more days left of summer, after all. Even if you're not the beach type, exploring a new area certainly can't hurt your understanding of El Nysa. Flona Cove is just a quick train ride away. BEACH PARTY: Chances are, you've heard about the beach party being organized by You Watanabe, whether it be from her directly or someone who knows her. A lot of careful planning has gone into it, and it looks like a great time, so why not check it out? Full speed ahead towards a great time! There's plenty of food for everyone, and plenty of watermelons that need splitting! 1. Various food vendors from around Flona Cove have agreed to offer free food for the new refugees, and they line the shoreline near the harbor, enthusiastically offering goodies such as seafood kabobs, ice cream, fresh fruit (including whole watermelons!), and hot dogs. You Watanabe herself has a grill where she’s cheerfully serving up her trademark "Niceoodles" yakisoba as well as other Japanese food like takoyaki and rice. What makes her noodles so nice? It’s obviously the cheerful smiley-face sun drawn on the omelette. In exchange, the chefs and vendors only ask that you spread the word, though most of them have buckets for donations if you want to help chip back in. After the party is all done, however, there seem to be plenty of dishes that need doing, all in a big pile. You herself is working on getting through the mountain of dishes, but maybe you could lend a hand? 2. It's just not a beach party without the traditional watermelon splitting! For those of you who don't come from modern Japan on Earth, it might be perplexing at first seeing the literal mountain of watermelons grown with the help of Keyleth, another recent Olympian. If the bat-like sticks and blindfolds next to them don’t explain the purpose, though, you might just sit back and watch as a brave competitor sets a watermelon on the sand, ties a blindfold around their eyes, and has people start yelling at them which way to go. They consider the shouts of the crowd, take a swing... and strike nothing but sand. Perhaps you can do better? There are beach activities galore. Now's the time to build the sandcastle of your dreams or play a game of beach volleyball. Maybe you're brave enough to surf the waves, or you’d just like to enjoy a swim. Mom friends who just want to lounge in the sun and read a book while working on their tan are welcome too, of course. BENEATH THE SURFACE: 1. Diving beneath the waters in Flona Cove yield a whole new world on its own. Rent a scuba suit and take a trip to explore the corals, and you may even be lucky enough to run into a playful school of dolphins. Be careful-- they tend to get carried away and will happily drag swimmers for a wild ride. 2. You might want a boat for this scuba adventure, unless you're a strong swimmer. Venture deeper into the ocean, farther away from the coast, and adventurers will find some interesting stuff. Two miles southwest of the harbor, deep, deep into the watery abyss, lies a shipwreck. Exploring through the various rooms of the ship yields a few knick-knacks here and there-- rusted spare parts, cracked tea sets... a surprisingly well-preserved pin-up painting of Koralle? The real treasure awaits for those who have the courage to swim beneath the ship's hull. Here, covered in algae and debris, lies the skeletal corpse of a winged, fanged, clawed beast. This is only a distant memory of its former glory, as nothing but bones are left, but something— something brilliant, catches your eye. Those hundreds of teeth are not bone, but a material so lustrous and pure, it nearly blinds. It will take some work, but with persistence and strength, it is possible to extract a tooth. Those that work in Simwe Institute or The Sanctuary may find it beneficial to take an extra for their boss— this is definitely something that is of interest to study. 3. Olympians love their luxury. There's nothing more luxurious than a secluded lagoon, the water at just the perfect temperature and pristine. This is one of the most sought-after spots for the natives, but when you come across it, it is completely peaceful and empty. For the tourists? Well, this place simply gets overlooked due to its distance from the main beaches. It's also relatively hidden. Soon you start feeling oddly friendly? Cupid’s Pool is also described by the people of Olympia as the touchy-feely pool. It has an inherent property that makes those who soak in it crave physical affection. Chances are you probably wanted to know this before you decided to take a dip, huh? (Please warn for threads appropriately) EARN SOME SILVER     1. While many of the locals came together to offer their hands to provide a bit of entertainment for the surge in tourism, that isn’t to state that they’re fully staffed. Have a few hours to spare? They're willing to pay for your help. Maybe you’re just the cooking champ they needed? The lifeguard who showed up just in time? Or the star salesman at their humble accessory shop so desired? 2. The man who approaches you is even offering more than most of the vendors down the street. Sure, the guy and his entourage look kind of shady, but money is money, isn't it? If you accept, he’ll shove a strange swimsuit or two your way and lead you to the dressing room. What kind of job is this? Modeling, he says. Hopefully you aren’t camera shy! Hey there, hot stuff. I like your look. Or maybe it's your... aura? Either way, I like what you're working with. How about you flaunt what you've got for some fat silver stacks? He also wants to be able to test your charm, and is willing to pay a whopping 400 silver in exchange. He may even ask you to go "talk" (did you hear him say "hit on"?) to a couple of people, and “sell” yourself. Whatever that means... Incidentally, he says he’ll give you a signal once you get a pass. Feels like forever, doesn’t it? 3. Once night begins to fall and the people gradually begin to clear out, you’ll notice something... odd. There are some shady looking people around, and maybe you’ve been hearing whispers all day about a certain "fight club." Initially, no one will tell you a time or location, but if you are persistent, your efforts will pay off. Perhaps in light of helping a vendor clear out their stall or assisting that one Olympian native in distress, they’re willing to tell you a few things about this exclusive club. They explain to you that it’s been a long-standing tradition of Olympia. Secret fight clubs. A place for people to stretch their wings and their fists. Moreover, the pay off seems to be pretty good! Though, they warn you that there are some aggressive competitors out there this time around. Things have been tough politically for a while now, and there is much unrest among the people. What better way to blow off some steam than to beat someone up and make a bit of bank! Fights are not to the death, simply until a knock out, but accidents (and "accidents") do happen. Finding the crowd of people will take some searching, even with directions. They meet along the northern coast of Flona, by following a path leading underground, well away from any civilization. Once you’re there, why not participate? You may find yourself facing off against a fellow refugee. OOC     An AC-eligible thread for 2 OLYMPIAN REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE by OCTOBER 15 11:59 PM EST. In the event of CAPTCHA, we will be providing an overflow. In the event of a second CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals. These threads remain eligible for AC, AC Rewards, and REP. 1 SILVER = 1 US DOLLAR. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[ax]

[ it occurs to shinji later that his own would have done the same thing. seconds later he's clasping a hand up to cover the thing on his chest as well; even if it's nothing as revealing as hers. embarrassing, sure, but... comparatively, it's mild.

hers, on the other hand... he still wants to ask, but once again doesn't know how to breach the subject. ]

You... What do you know about Shadows?

[ or, y'know, being direct works too. it's not like subtlety was ever his forte. ]

[frombetrayal]

Well, everyone has them...

[She indicates each of their shadows, cast upon the ground - but then she pauses. Wait. If he's even asking her that, then it means that he knows enough about them to clue in to the fact that the capital S means something.

Her eyes narrow slightly.]

But perhaps this might be a conversation better had in private?

[ie not on the streets where anyone else could wander along and overhear them...]

[ax]

[ shinjiro casts a sweeping glance at their surroundings. there are people, but they're all minding their own business, greeting others, hiding the patches on their chests... nobody seems to be paying attention to the two of them.

but he gets her point. it's a topic not really suitable to discuss in the open, because normal people wouldn't understand. it would be troublesome if someone overheard and ask questions. so he cants his head towards an alleyway a little out of sight. ]

We can talk over there.

[ it doesn't yet occur to him that a prim, proper girl might not want to walk into an alleyway with a guy she doesn't know... but then again. girls who deal with shadows seem pretty tough in general. ]

Unless you wanna go somewhere else. I don't care.

[frombetrayal]

[Hm.

On the one hand, that alleyway is sort of sketchy-looking. (And so is Shinji, really, but Ryuji is also sort of sketchy-looking, and he's her friend, so she knows that doesn't necessarily mean he is sketchy.)

On the other, she's perfectly capable of defending herself if push comes to shove. So she nods.]

There will be just fine.

[Onward to the alley they go, then. She'll let him go first, just in case the alley turns into a dead end. Once they're part of the way in and out of sight of anyone who might just be casually strolling by, she speaks, though she keeps her voice low.]

To have asked me something like that in the first place... there's something you know, isn't there?

[ax]

[ there's also something about girls who deal with shadows and not minding their own safety like they should... shinji keeps that in mind to mention it to her later, but now... business first. ]

Same to you, right?

[ the alley is dim, but thankfully not damp or dirty. it makes shinji feel a less guilty about suggesting it in the first place, as he leans back against a wall, keeping his eyes on her expression. ]

I've never seen you before... Mitsuru didn't mention anything about another Persona user aside from the rest of 'em.

[ a pause. ]

You have a Persona, don't you.

[frombetrayal]

[Her answer to that first question is a short nod. Honestly, she's going to need to get rid of that patch soon - if the wrong person saw it, then...

Well, she's not sure exactly how they'd connect "Shadows" to "Phantom Thieves," but better safe than sorry, as they say. Haru would hate to let any of her own slip-ups come back to haunt her friends.

Her brows furrow slightly in confusion at the name "Mitsuru," though.]

...who...?

[—Persona user.

Haru's blood runs cold, and one of her hands clenches into a fist. Just how much does he know?]

...I imagine both of our answers to that question would be the same.

[ax]

[ he can sense her tension in waves. it makes little sense to him. he knows strega, and this girl is definitely not part of that. she shouldn't have anything to worry about, except... there is. and he can't imagine a reason for it. ]

Yeah. I have a Persona.

It's hard to think there's someone with the potential that Kirijo hasn't found. I guess it's still possible.

... How do you summon yours without an Evoker, is what I want to ask.

[frombetrayal]

[Kirijo... now, where has she heard that name before? Has she at all, or is she just making connections where none exist because she's paranoid?

...she needs to calm down. Even if he does figure out that she's a Phantom Thief, it's not like he can do anything about it. The Tokyo law enforcement is nowhere to be found (as far as she knows), and it's not like they can be prosecuted here.

Still, old habits die hard.]

Um... I've never heard of anyone summoning one with an Evoker.

[...

Wait, damn. That just totally gave away the fact that she knows of others who don't use Evokers, didn't it.]

[ax]

[ and that gets shinji on edge. strega has always been a peculiar bunch - weird, eccentric, outcasts... easily identifiable. this girl before him on the other hand looks normal. she's clean and polite and proper, almost to the mitsuru standard without the authoritative air.

he can't imagine her being in league with takaya, but the possibility just shot up uncomfortably. ]

... Are you part of Strega?

[ the question comes out cautiously, and shinji's body also tenses him minutely against the wall. it's hard to tell with the way he's hunched, though. ]

[frombetrayal]

[That question throws her entirely for a loop. Her eyes go wide and her eyebrows shoot up - and she shakes her head slowly, uncomprehending.

"Strega"... She was prepared for a question about the Phantom Thieves, or about Personas, or anything else. But she's never heard that word before in her life.]

—I beg your pardon?

[She tilts her head to one side, clearly puzzled. Either she's honestly confused or she's acting now, and if that is the case, then her terrible acting earlier was just... an act. Which will it be, Shinji?]

[ax]

Strega. Bunch of Persona users who use the Dark Hour to do whatever they want.

[ he's not convinced with that expression of surprise, but a part of him also wants to give her the benefit of the doubt. there are so many things that don't line up to really accuse her of anything.

it makes him wish it wasn't him here, but mitsuru instead. she would probably know what questions to ask or how to interrogate... ]

[frombetrayal]

[..."Dark Hour"?

Haru's brow furrows more deeply, and she shakes her head again.]

I can say with certainty that I do not know what you are talking about.

[He knows about Personas. But Evokers and Dark Hours... no, they're nothing like the masks they ripped away from their faces, nothing like the Metaverse. This makes very little sense, and Haru can't help but wonder if they're both confusing themselves because of something that only sounds like a commonality.]

[ax]

[ now this is just getting confusing, and shinji is not equipped mentally to think about it and make some sort of sense. there's a sigh, his brows furrowing, and now he's more preoccupied with dealing with someone who knows about shadows and personas but none of the other aspects. ]

Then... how'd you get your Persona? You were either born with the potential, or Kirijo experimented on you.

[frombetrayal]

Well, you see...

[Mmm. How does she explain this? Haru wishes she had thought to ask Ann or Akira or any of the others she'd run into on the station what she should do if she ended up in a situation like this, but... honestly, how could she ever expect it?]

A certain set of circumstances came about that allowed me to... awaken to it, I suppose you could say.

[She pauses, then shifts her weight from one foot to another.]

I'm sorry. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it.

[ax]

... The only person I know who doesn't use an Evoker to summon his Persona is Takaya.

[ but. ok. alright. maybe he just needs to suspend some disbelief and come to terms with the fact that there may just be unforeseen circumstances that neither he nor the rest of SEES would have expected. every single one of them would be shocked for sure, and he wishes they were here so he wouldn't be alone to deal with this.

that's so sentimental, shinji.

he wants to ask about her circumstances; but maybe she's not elaborating for a reason. he's not the type to pry, except this time his curiosity is far too loud in his head. ]

Let's try somethin' else... Where did you live? How did you not know about the Dark Hour if you have a Persona?

[frombetrayal]

[There is just as much recognition in her expression when he says "Takaya" as there was when he said "Mitsuru" - which is to say, none at all.

So, there's that, at least.]

I live in.. lived in Tokyo.

[It's still hard to fathom that she lives here now. That it's "lived," past tense. Even if her loved ones are safe, even if a good number of them have already woken up, it's not the same.

It's nowhere near the same.]

Personas don't have anything to do with one hour or another. At least, not as I understand them. [She hesitates.] Where did you live before? ...and what is this Dark Hour, anyway?

[ax]

[ tokyo... it's not port island. port island is all shinji's ever known. now that he thinks of it, it's stupid to think that every single person capable of summoning a persona would live on port island in the first place.

but it is unthinkable to meet a persona user who doesn't need an evoker, who doesn't know what the dark hour is. ]

It's... the time that exists between midnight and 12:01. That's when everything turns dark and... green, and Shadows are out and about. [ a breath. ] I ain't good at explaining this shit. Sorry.

Anyway, it's the only time when your Persona can be summoned to fight the Shadows. If you have one, you should [ emphasis on should ] at least be aware of the Dark Hour, because we're fully functional at that time.

[frombetrayal]

[Haru bites her lip.

The way he describes the Dark Hour almost reminds her of Mementos. But they don't have to wait for midnight to be able to go there, so she knows it's not exactly the same thing.]

I've never experienced anything like that, but...

[Now that she thinks about it...]

There is a... place. [Oh, that's not a very clear explanation at all.] A place where I'm able to summon my Persona. There were different floors, and the further in w- I went, the stronger the Shadows became.

Does that sound like what you know, even a little...?

[ax]

You mean Tartarus?

[frombetrayal]

No, Mementos.

[The words are out before she can stop herself.

Just how much about the Metaverse is she going to let slip? Sorry, Phantom Thieves...]

[ax]

Dunno what that is.

[ hey, at least she's letting stuff slip to someone harmless... and shinji is just more confused than anything. ]

I guess if you don't live on Port Island, you wouldn't know what Tartarus is. Damn...

[ the more they talk, the more convoluted it all sounds. and more and more shinji is feeling wildly uncomfortable about this conversation, like someone else should be having it. ]

I'm not the best person to talk to about all this. Except my friends are all sleepin' up there. [ a jerk of his head, upward. to the stations, the sleeping pods... aki and mitsuru's faces flash through his mind for the briefest of moments. ]

[frombetrayal]

[She has to keep herself from looking upward. She knows what he means, though - the memory of all those people in those pods, so still and cold... Of that man in his pod, knowing he might wake up just as she did...

Haru closes her eyes for a moment, takes a breath, and then nods.]

Some of mine have awakened already... but some of them are still asleep.

[She pauses, and then-]

...it sounds like it must be a little difficult... not having somebody to talk to about this. [She's gotten stronger since awakening to her Persona, but she can't even begin to imagine being here alone.] It may be presumptuous of me to suggest this, but...

[He seems... trustworthy enough. Gruff, but well-meaning. At any rate, he hasn't tried to threaten her - that's a plus.]

Would you like for me to introduce you to my friends? Perhaps all of us together can figure this out.

[ax]

[ the idea of meeting other people makes shinji more than a little hesitant. does he want to meet other persona users? not particularly. does he want to meet her friends? not particularly. does he want to meet anyone? not particularly.

so the expression looking back at her is a little scrunched up. he rubs the back of his neck, then fidgets with his beanie a little more, because while he is curious, he doesn't know if he's curious enough. ]

Dunno if that's a good idea. 'm not... [ a people person. good company. a good person... the list goes on. ] Well, I can't explain shit like the others can. Wasn't even in the team for long.

[frombetrayal]

[Something is better than nothing, which is what they'll have if they wait for one of Shinji's sleeping friends, who may or may not even wake up. But even though he's covered up the patch, that "making myself suffer" is fresh in her mind, and she doesn't want him to think that she's only inviting him along because he'd be better than nothing.

What, then?]

You have a different perspective than the rest of us, though. That can only be a good thing.

[That sounds... convincing enough, she thinks. She hopes.

And then, gently:]

Besides, I'd like to get to know you a little better, for my own curiosity. My name is Haru Okumura - what is yours?

[ax]

[ she's earnest, he'll give her that... it's still not enough to really sway him, but shinji has never been able to bring himself to be 100% rude to a girl. he should work on that. ]

Shinjiro Aragaki.

[ he still doesn't move away from the wall, or give any indication that he might be open to this. ]

'm telling you. I'm not gonna be any help. Don't even have my Evoker with me.