[Game Opening, Part 2 - A Thousand Words or More]

[stringmods]

Who: (Everyone OPEN LOG)
Where: (City Hall)
Summary: (After arriving you got to mingle a bit but now it's time for explanations! Finally!)
Warnings: (Some guy LIKES TO TALK LIKE THIS!!)
Style: (The text is in prose, but feel free to write back in action tags if you feel more comfortable.)
Suitable Music: This.

When someone finally speaks up...he's rather hard to miss.

"WELCOME! To YOUR NEW LIIIIIFE!" If anything, this fellow demanded attention, what with the costume he was wearing. What a way to get introduced to this new world.



"My name...is DR. BYRON ORPHEUUUUS! But you can call me Orpheus...Dr. Orpheus if you're really insistent. REGARDLESS! It was BY THE FATES that you were all plucked from your lives and brought here to aid this city in its greatest time of need. Yes, all of you will become HEROES! With the power of your PERSONA you shall become the riotous fury of..."

"Is such enthusiasm really necessary, Orpheus?" The voice that interrupts Byron sounds slightly modulated, and comes from the large blue and grey metal man behind the others. His voice is loud enough that he doesn't require the microphone - one of the few perks that comes with being a giant robot in a world like this.

"I am Brainstorm, and I am responsible for a sizeable amount of the work that went into a lot of the tech you all have, or have experienced the beneficial effects of, unknowingly. Those of you with large objects from home have me to thank for that transport system. The Evokers used in the arena? Me again. As well as a fair amount of tweaking and perfecting your COMPs and watches you received. I do hope you manage some degree of appreciation, as crafting devices to fit such small beings was incredibly painstaking for someone like myself. Working on nanomachines at this size isn't easy. Now, I know you organics have short attention spans, but do try and keep up, because I hate to repeat myself..."

"I suppose it's an unfortunate eventuality that some number of you will somehow manage to break something. If that happens, you may contact me about repairs, but I am usually quite busy, and I'm not going to be happy about having to deal with the consequences of your carelessness. However, if it becomes necessary, my workshop is in the Cancer district."

"And with Brainstorm's explanation, I suppose it is my cue to go next. Permit me to introduce myself..."

"Now then, as it was explained, when the Seven of us arrived here, we found out we had been expected, just like you. Unlike you, however, while they knew we were coming...they had little to no where we'd come from. Let's just say it has been quite a learning experience for both sides and leave it at that." He gave them a small smile. Ahh the misunderstandings that had happened...even amongst themselves.

"We wandered around blindly during the first week. Not just to adjust from our worlds to this one, but, quite frankly, we had no idea what to do! Fortunately, a few weeks later, the Three Wise Men appeared and aided us to understand the nature of Persona. Each of them were knowledgeable in the subject. You'll be able to speak with one of them once he's done...with personal things involving family...but that isn't our concern, isn't it? Let's go on with what we've learned so far."

He moved his hand on his watch and a series of images flashed in front.

"Persona can be called forth in various ways. So far our knowledge extends into three methods; the first is a blast of energy from your soul that gives form to your inner Persona. That one will com naturally to you. The second, is made using this..."

His took something from the nearby podium and held it into the air.

"You might think this is a normal handgun, but it is actually an Evoker. It can also be used to bring out your Persona. By giving you a feeling of stress and danger, which can also bring out your Persona naturally, it jump starts your summoning. However, we tend to encourage using the normal summoning method. The device was perfected by Brainstorm, Hazama, the Wisemen and myself. We created it to aid the police force summon their Persona faster during riots but recently...it's even become popular during Persona Duels."



"...But I'm sure you'll find out about those in the city soon enough, what with their ridiculous popularity. We shalln't dwell on those." He put the gun down. "The final method uses arcana cards. You can summon more than your inner Persona, although I am sure this is completely new information to you. Do not worry, you'll learn it soon enough like we have. To do so...you'll need to gain more. I believe next week is when the Velvet room will appear again according to our calculations, Miss Mcgonagall?"

"That is correct."

"Well then!" The man continued on. "We can explain that in due time. Now let's go into something really interesting. Did you notice how you have items from your homeworld with you? Consider yourselves lucky, we didn't have that luxury. It was only through our preparations that we were able to do this. You see, when a soul enters this world, they are still tied to their old world by a special strand. Normal users can't see it, but ahh!...Those like myself who Intel more than fight, well, our Persona allow us to see them. By combining our technology and magic, we devised a system which grabs those things which are near and dear to your heart. Just how we did this would require a few days of explanation, ergo I will spare you the details for now. Those that wish to know more can come to my office later. In any case...you're welcome."

The man shuffled his hands, and grinned. Obviously he had been waiting to explain to them the next part. It was brief and short.

"As for the strands, considering they are your passport to your old homeworld, so to speak, your anchor to your life...we've named them..."

"Destiny Strings."

"Don't worry, you will not be able to see them right away. It took me a week before I could grasp the strings to become visible. Of course there were only ten of us, so therein the challenge....

Not that there's that much to see here currently..." he sighed, exasperated in a way that only a man of his caliber could do (and yet it was so delightfully British) "Is this really what we'll have to be working with? We already have Orpheus who--"

"I BEG YOU PARDON?!"

"Oh you know exactly what I mean. Talking about in that exaggerated manner of yours--"

"Really, if you two are going to continue blathering and arguing like true imbeciles," McGonagall spoke in the middle, coldly, "let someone else speak up. At this rate, we'll be here all night and it is a full moon..."

The two men glared at each other for a second before Q finished, adjusting his tie.

" Yes, well....I do not think of myself as a fool, thank you very much, but there is truth in your words. Ciel, if you please?"

"Okay! I guess it's my turn then!"

The petite girl gave the assembly a small bow. Despite the amount of people before her, she didn't seem the least bit phased. A natural leader, if there was one.

"There is much to discuss." Her fingers moved over her watch and a 3D map of the city appeared before them, glowing green shapes with markings over each district. You might notice a few areas are still in the dark. "This is what we have of the city...so far. Unfortunately, many places still allude us. Hinoto-Ri is vast, and there are a number of areas in each distinct that are currently too dangerous to enter. Those restricted areas are protected by the police force to keep the population out. We hope to finish mapping them out as soon as we can...carefully."

"Regardless, let us look at what we have about each district, one by one."

"Now, are there any questions?"

[OOC - You can start your own threads, speak amongst yourself with the new information or just ask questions to the assembled cast]

Comments

[fools_journey]

Minako...

So she really -- but how-? Why is she... his age?

But none of that really matters, if she's here and real. So he just -- stares. Not for long, but enough to really take her in - the hair, the eyes, how she's changed and how she looks the same. No wonder she seemed so familiar. It all makes sense now... Except for the parts that don't, but those can be figured out later.

His hands actually come out of his pockets now, and wide-eyed, he takes a step towards her.

"Minako --" He starts to speak and then he stops, realizing he has no idea what to say or how to say it. So instead he lets a smile break through his surprise. "... I've missed you."

ignore the wrong boy in the icon

[greatseal]

"...I missed you too." Missed wasn't even the right word. That accident had left a hole instead of her family, one that never healed no matter how much she covered it up and threw it aside. A hole she never wanted to touch, not even when Yukari talked about her father and Akihiko told her about his own lost sibling. She'd been over missing them - him, their parents - and it only took this one moment to prove that all a lie.

...Oh, forget it. Boys are such trouble.

She throws her arms around him.

ditto...

[fools_journey]

He's quick to catch her and hold her tight, closing his eyes just to revel in the warmth and solid feel of her presence. He'd spent so long trying not to think about her or their parents. Like her, he's avoided bringing them up when friends have spoken of similar losses. To see her again now was wonderful, and yet it hurt, but he didn't think that was bad. Rather, it was proof that despite everything, despite pretending otherwise, he'd never stopped loving and missing his twin.

Even with such tumbling thoughts, however, it is hard to bring himself to say anything, so he keeps on holding her close.

wow minato

[greatseal]

Minako... as always, takes it on herself to break the silence.

"You've grown a lot..." Heh. "Though... I did think you'd be a little taller."

Just because she hasn't seen you alive in ten years doesn't mean she can't remember how to tease.

:P

[fools_journey]

Ouch. He's not that short, is he?

"Maybe I'm still growing." It's entirely possible after all! But man, ten years, and she's already found two things to tease him about. She's on a roll. "You've grown, too, though..."

[greatseal]

Not that short. But he's definitely shorter than Akihiko. Probably Junpei, as well...

She finally pulls back, just a little. They have some serious things to discuss. "...Akihiko-senpai told me you were here. I couldn't believe it until I saw you, though. Is..." She pauses. "Is it true you were in SEES with him?"

He hadn't directly said that, of course, but it was obvious enough by implication.

[fools_journey]

Definitely shorter than Junpei. Hatboy's got long legs! He is not the shortest male on his team, though. Nope, that distinction belongs to Koromaru.

But he uses the pulling back as an opportunity to really study her face while they talk. He nods and thinks that if she's mentioning SEES, then she must know what it is... So she must have been a part, too.

"Yeah... I was. ... and you were, as well?"

[greatseal]

"Mm, that's right... though I guess I can't prove that now."

Considering Akihiko thought she was a stranger. At least Theo knew her, or she might have really thought she was going crazy. ...She's still wondering slightly at that possibility.

"...I was the leader. But you must have been too..." And now she has to actually voice what she'd been assuming... "If we took each other's place."

[fools_journey]

"... Yeah." He pauses to think about that assumption and what it would mean if it's really the case. "... did you ever meet a boy called Pharos?"

That, to him, seems the quickest way to confirm it without venturing into territory that's too sensitive.

[greatseal]

She's quiet for just a moment longer than usual. "I did. Then, you too..."

[fools_journey]

Well. That answers that. He's quiet, too, just looking at her. He nods once, solemn. If she knows Pharos, then their positions really are identical, at least to start with. And maybe... to finish.

He doesn't want to ask the next question, but he has to know if her journey ends the same way. If she knows a boy with a yellow scarf. If she finds the same way to end the Dark Hour. If...

"... did you find your answer?"

The reason for living -- and the reason for dying.

[greatseal]

"...Well, that's what I thought. But we're both here instead."

Clearly, she doesn't want to spend much time on that topic any more than he does.

[fools_journey]

"Yeah. We are."

And so he forces (though, truth be told, it's not really forced) a small smile and squeezes his arms around her a little.

"... it's a second chance."

[greatseal]

"Right." Minako squeezes back, maybe just a little harder. They had ten years to make up for, after all.

And then, very suddenly, she pulls away.

"We're going to have to explain this to Akihiko-senpai somehow... I sort of ran away from him earlier."

[fools_journey]

"You... ran away from him?"

He's a little confused by that.

[greatseal]

"Well, he didn't recognize me at all and then just started talking about how you were falling asleep by the snack table!"

What else was a girl to do?

[fools_journey]

"Oh."

He thinks he understands now. She came to look for him. He thinks. It makes sense.

"... where did you leave him?"

[greatseal]

"Over that way..." She points in a direction with too many people to make out the red sweater and silver hair. "But it was before the announcements started."

[fools_journey]

Thanks. They'll surely find him now!

"... hm. Well, it's a place to start looking."

If only there were someplace stocking protein powder, they'd be sure to find him there--!

[greatseal]

"Right!"

She pauses, and then grabs his hand, like they're six again and in a busy shopping mall. "Stick close to me, okay? There's a lot of people here."

[fools_journey]

In retrospect, he'll probably think it a little funny, but right now, he doesn't mind at all. Except...

"Ah -- slow down a little."