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

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

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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That's -- a lot. But also a pretty condensed summary! And he nods. It sounds like it's been a long time for her since they last met... ]

Sounds like quite an adventure. I hope you enjoy making bonds. Friends ... you can do anything with friends to support you.

[ YOU CAN EVEN SAVE THE WORLD--! ]

But what do you desire? Maybe you'll have a chance here.

[Her desire... She might be looking a little flushed, but her eyes stay on him despite it.]

My desire is to attain the strength of power that you once held, and that Margaret's guest held as well, to free you from your shackles. Or perhaps to keep that beast at bay indefinitely. I believe either would end that way, in any case.

[She's not supposed to pursue these feelings, but perhaps that rule can stay broken a while longer.]

[ Minato's eyes widen in surprise at first. That flush and steady gaze -- he finds himself having to fight not to blush as well.

That she left the Velvet Room eventually hardly shocks him, but that she did so for him is unexpected. His first impulse is to duck his head and shake it and tell her no, it's okay - don't worry about me. But he quickly pushes that aside, because if it's possible for Erebus to be permanently kept at bay, then he'd have no reason to worry about his own seal breaking. Besides, he does maintain hope that it is possible for Erebus to be eliminated somehow - the world becoming more hopeful, maybe. And anyway, he has no desire to tell Elizabeth what she can and can't do (he's not sure she'd listen, either). ]

Edited 2012-09-13 03:06 (UTC)

[ And in any case, he hardly has time to dwell on his impulses, as what she's trying to do sinks in, and a warm rush of happiness and worry and hope and a thread of guilt courses through him and takes over. To know that she cares that much - enough to leave her home and family for him, to risk so and go on such adventures to make freeing him her primary goal and desire... in some ways, it's a little overwhelming.

In some ways, the best and worst part of it is that of all the people he knows, she is among the most likely to have a chance of managing it without undoing what he has done and without making things worse. He has faith in her ability.

And yet, it still comes with worry for her. He knows how powerful she is, but it's not that sort of danger he's concerned about. What if she finds the ultimate solution is simply to take his place in the seal? Or otherwise sacrifice herself in his stead? Or what if she does somehow manage to break things in a bad way?

And as soon as he thinks that and feels the doubt, he feels guilty. This is Elizabeth. He shouldn't doubt her, especially not on matters related to the Sea of the Soul. She almost certainly knows more about the mechanics of these things than he does, even if her understanding of more mundane things and of emotional matters may be lacking. ]

[ But even more than that, he feels guilty for hoping she can succeed in freeing him and for being happy she's trying. After all, he chose this, and he is willing to endure this for as long as it takes for humanity to stop calling to Nyx and forming Erebus. Being pleased with someone taking action like this is almost tantamount to doubting humanity's ability to improve. And even if it's not that, it's like saying he doesn't want to be the Seal.

Which... he doesn't. Not really. That's not why he chose to form the seal. He wanted to live and he wanted his friends to live - he wanted all the people who'd shown him kindness to live - he wanted the world to keep on living in spite of insane, despairing scientists. And in light of that, his own life - his own soul hadn't mattered... ]

[ But Elizabeth thinks he's worth trying to save.

And thus in the end, the happiness that she thinks that - that she shows how she cares in actions as well as words - overrides the rest of his racing thoughts after a few moments of staring.

Swallowing back anything else besides that pleasure and admiration and the very warm fondness he holds for her, Minato manages to smile as he bypasses speaking for a moment to simply step forward and embrace her, if she lets him. It's only then that he finally murmurs words he very much owes her. ]

Thank you, Elizabeth.

[Being thanked is not something residents are used to. They are merely there to help their guest grow and reach their true potential, and afterwards they await another guest. That's just how it is, and how it has always been -- how it will always be.

Being thanked alights in her something very warm and something very strange -- if she had to describe it to someone, it would be something along the lines of 'feeling as if her heart was about to burst'. She supposes, then, this is what it feels like to be truly happy. She had felt excitement and she had felt loss; she had felt gratitude and she had felt fulfillment.

(Even still, she feels the last one - as if she is now in the place she belongs.)

But she has never felt as if she could fly on wings borne of whim and iron will.]

[And, in the end, is that not what her desire was?

A whim --

A wish --

Something she had reached for and forsaken her duties for.

She feels no regret for her actions, for her whims, for her reasons. There's only that tight feeling, and a certainty that she is doing the right thing - for herself, most definitely. A guest's trip to the Velvet Room is to learn more about themselves, as well as the arcana that swim and swirl in the depths of their soul. It is a resident's opportunity to see more of the world their guest knows, and to find themselves there as well. Some found their calling in helping others, while the ones who had come before her had vanished as soon as their duty to the world - and to their master, Lord Philemon - had ended.

To date, the only resident she knows that has left the Velvet Room in order to pursue a guest has been herself. Both Margaret and Theodore had resigned themselves to being of more use in the Velvet Room than outside. And she had too, for a time, until she had found a resolve the same as the one her second guest - Aigis - had found for her journey: to find this "meaning of life" that Minato had found for himself.]

[The thoughts subside somewhat as she returns his embrace, linking her fingers together behind his back and pressing closely against him. The curious warmth still builds steadily within her, and she wonders --

is it what his kind had called love, or is it only her desire being close at hand, at long last?

She's touched by his words, regardless -- though she has never been one to deny herself the words on the tip of her brain.]

There is no need for thanks, Minato Arisato. I'm only doing a resident's work.

[She's not, but getting thanked is embarrassing and strange, though not unwelcome.]

[ He makes no movement to pull away, content to stay close to her like this at least for the moment. It makes it a little easier to process thoughts and emotional responses when not looking someone right in the eyes, anyway. But he shakes his head just a little. ]

I think you're going well above and beyond that. ... you said you left.

[For her, it's been too long of a time since she was so close to another person. She doesn't hug her family - Theodore's too stiff for that (and it's funner to tease him anyway), and her and Margaret have never had the relationship for it - and there's something special about such a simple touch. She's content, then, to stay like this as well.]

Yes, and I'm not sure if I'll be returning once my journey is through. [She would like to, but the outside world is still exciting.

(and she'd hopefully have him around then, too.)] I believe they would allow me back in.

I'm sure they will. ... it's home, right?

[ At least that's how it had always seemed for her. He doesn't really know that she has much in the way of family, and he knows his own experiences with having a home to go back to aren't exemplary, but ... he can't really imagine Igor saying, 'No, go away.' ]

In the meantime... there's a lot still to explore.

[Of a kind --

It isn't like they had elsewhere to go. Regardless of choice, she would consider it her home.]

Indeed. [This is where she'll draw away, lingering a little longer than need be.] Perhaps after our hosts are finished answering questions, we could take a walk and explore the city a little together?

Perhaps. [ Feeling her begin to draw away, he moves back a little as well and nods Before he can say much else, however, he interrupts himself with a yawn. ]

I would like that, though maybe we should wait until tomorrow when we'll have the whole day.

[ He's pretty sleepy... ]

I suppose you would be rather tired. [She nods, as if affirming her observation. His kind did need to sleep - although, admittedly, she had never tried to do it herself.] Tomorrow sounds fine. This will be the first time we've gone out on the town without having to fulfill one of my request, won't it?

[-- She will still get him a reward of sorts. Hmmmm.]

I guess it will. ... is that all right?

[ She's not in the Velvet Room anymore, so there's not exactly a schedule, right? But he's not sure if she'd like to make an official request all the same. ]

Yes. [She almost wants to put one in, just for old time's sake -- but no, something informal feels fine. Freeing, almost.] Unless you would prefer me to request it at the present moment?

[Because she can. Look, she's already clearing her throat to make it sound more official.]

[ Smiling, he shakes his head. ] It's all right. Only Request it if you want to.

[Gosh all this silly freedom nonsense is rather refreshing. And exciting. Well, she had already requested things of her own free will back when she was an attendant but

Not important, no.]

Then it will remain a simple date. However, I do have one request as of this moment, if you wouldn't mind listening to it.

[It's a really dumb request.]

[ So long as it isn't cleaning out a bathroom again. . . ]

I don't mind. What is it?

[Those were your service hours!! Volunteer work builds character :')]

Would you... smile more often?

[ That -- takes him off guard. There's a pause wherein he blinks at her in surprise.

But then

well... there's only one response for something like that. ]

I'll try.

[ And he manages a small warm smile. Just for her. It's a little tentative and a little tired, but it's genuine, because Elizabeth is good at inducing smiles at times like this. ]

[It's a silly one.

But he has a nice smile. ~~She missed it.~~]

I apologize for the rather outlandish request, however it is something I have been wishing to see again.

[This is... happiness, she decides. She is happy.]

[ He shakes his head and keeps smiling. ]

It's not outlandish. ... I'm happy to oblige.

[ And happy enough otherwise in his own quiet way, at least for the moment. ]

[She takes his hand to give it one squeeze - another linger, too long perhaps - and nods.]

Then I hope to see it more in the coming days, although without my requesting it. Many of your friends are here after all [she can sense them -- they reminded her of Aigis, truthfully, as far as feeling goes] and surely their company will bring you complacency.

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

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I'm sorry for the delay. This was too tl;dr to do on my phone. 1 of ?

2 of ?

3 of 4

4 of 4 and the only part with any actions or dialogue...

It's all right! 1/3

2/3

3/3

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