The Search for the Newcomers, November 2012 Edition.

[stringmods]

Who: Open to Everyone, but only Newly Accepted Characters can start threads.
Where: All around the city, anywhere from the 5th to the 20th.
Summary: Newcomers arrive and by now the Government is more ready and sends everyone out to go people hunting.
Warnings: ARRIVALS. Also assume the first thread is the ones who tell you about the city, and the other tags for the character can be talking with others in the city and learning more about it.

[FOR THOSE IN THE CITY:]
They were getting much better at this, it was for certain.

The COMPS had been upgraded with a new program, HORUS which allowed them to spot abnormalities; if something or someone showed up suddenly in a city that was constantly scanned, then there was a high probability it was a newcomer. There was also a sort of left energy from the travel; the Wise Men called it leftover Magatama Residue, where the magical energy used to pull them to this world and keep the String intact was still faintly present around them. It wouldn't last more than a few minutes, however, and due to the fact they could appear in most parts of the city, it made finding the newcomers was both easy yet frustratingly difficult. As the blips appear on your radar function, they were nice enough to calculate for you the best transport and destination routes to take to get there.

Now it was just left up to chance and make sure you got there fast enough that you were still able to find them relatively easily. For the most part, the fact they stuck out would most certainly help...

[FOR THOSE WHO JUST ARRIVED:]
You're not in your homeworld anymore. That much is evident. So how do you feel? Happy? Sad? Troubled? A little of all three? No matter what, the memories of a butterfly man named Philemon are fading like a dream; you'll remember the details, but perhaps not everything he has said.

There is one word that stays with you, however.

Persona.

So...here to save the city, huh? First you'll need to find out more information. And who knows, maybe a familiar face or two...

[OOC: As stated above, only new characters can start a thread, but feel free to jump in any of them. characters arrive with their clothing and whatever items they had on them the moment they were taken; the remaining items will be later found in their apartments.]

Comments

[nyxterious]

[Of course, he knew exactly what a Persona was. Despite this, though, he was a bit shocked than anything. Why would he have one, of all people? He knows well of what he is, especially with all that happened back home

So he doesn't really know how to feel. Of course, he's happy that he has a Persona, since he knows what exactly that entails, but...

It's a very confusing situation. So of course, when confused, Ryoji will be walking around the city. Who knows, maybe someone else he knows is here as well. SEES, to be specific, if it's choosing Persona Users. So maybe if he wanders, he'll run into them? How would they even react, though?

He seems fairly lost in thought at this point, and just looking around occasionally when he feels like taking in more of the sights. So go ahead and catch him off guard! Maybe calling out to him and trying to explain, when he mutters "Persona" under his breath every once in a while, trying to remember more of what Philemon said.]

[fools_journey]

[ Well, after Pharos showed up, Minato is hardly surprised to see a familiar derp in a yellow scarf wander on by while Minato's on his way to work. He is, however, surprised that Ryoji walks right on by without noticing - but then again he does look pretty spaced out, so maybe it's just that. Still, Minato wonders if maybe that means this is a Ryoji from Minako's side of things or... even some other world? After all, there have been no shortage of people here from different versions of his world...

But in any event, he does the only sensible thing to get Ryoji's attention, and that is to catch the trailing end of that absurdly long scarf and give it a gentle tug. Not enough to choke Ryoji (hopefully!) but enough to get his attention. ]

Hey.

[nyxterious]

[Ack.

Well, it's not enough to choke him, but it does cause him to sputter a bit. Someone found his one weakness. His psuedo-leash... ! Oh nooooo. Who would even know how to do that?!

But well, that answer is already answered before he even turned around. That ever so familiar voice was enough to recognize him by, and of course, him being here...]

Minato-kun...

[HEY BUDDY... who we just basically got done fighting. And know what you did.]

[fools_journey]

Ryoji.

[ Nope, sorry death-bro. No -kun for you. But this is mostly because Minato doesn't call Pharos 'Pharos-kun', and it would seem a little strange to him to use honorifics on one but not the other.

In any event, he offers Ryoji a small smile. ]

Did you just arrive here?

[nyxterious]

[He can't help but smile back. Especially since, well, Minato's still smiling. Even despite what happened. That's good.]

I did. I was wondering if you all were here, as well.

[fools_journey]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Only some of us. [ But that can wait. ] How are you? [ Don't think he missed that lost in thought-ness from before! ]

[nyxterious]

I see. [Well it's better than none! As awkward as it might get. But uhh.] I'm fine. I was mostly wondering what I was told, when I arrived. I heard Persona, but...

[he's a Shadow. So that can't be right.]

[the_usual_stuff]

[ When he feels another new presence emerge in this dimension, Pharos stops dead wherever he is wandering in the city, and doesn't move for a good several minutes, vivid blue eyes widening straight ahead in bemused confusion. The closest recollection he can compare this sudden odd sensation to is... that of the Arcana Shadows that had appeared every moon, like the scattered fragments of death when they had clustered together, drawn by the pull of death's strongest piece. The slight tug in his gut was not utterly dissimilar.

It felt just like himself, but complete. But he's... here right now. Pharos hadn't had a chance to... No, he needed to see this for himself immediately. So, he vanishes and for once since his arrival into this universe, his teleportation abilities don't fail him and misfire in reaching his destination. The impression of black and white stripes solidified a few feet to the side of and behind the older personification of Death. The noise of sandals tapping on pavement was heard. Pharos said, undoubtedly taking Ryoji off guard; ]

You're... [ There's no mistaking it, but how... ] You're me.

[ He doesn't bother to make that slow, steady (vaguely confused) statement into a question. It isn't a question. It was an undeniable fact. His senses weren't lying.

... How could this even work? ]

[nyxterious]

[And of course, it was yet another familiar being that was here. This one was a bit different than Minato. Of course, like Pharos said, Ryoji is... him. Albeit, yes, a completed version, but...

This was still very strange. It wasn't really a situation that was planned to happen, obviously. Pharos was another form of him, changing just like the phases of the moon. So of course, when he heard that voice, and turned to see it, he was definitely not ready for it. If anyone managed to catch him off guard, it was definitely Pharos.]

This place is strange, isn't it... [But. Huh. It's weird to say, almost... but it's natural all at the same time.] I am you. Hello, Pharos.

[the_usual_stuff]

[ The need for "Pharos" was over; he had been resigned to that. He had closed his eyes, his role in things done, and accepted this personality would depart from existence upon the union of his completed shadow form, and give raise to the next personality; another him, another phrase, not utterly identical but at the same person at the base of it all. The child grows up to be replaced by the adult. It happens to everyone, you could even say.

No, this wasn't what he had expected at all, but he would have to adapt, wouldn't he? Death foreshadowed change among many, many other things. He must adapt to unexpected change. The small boy with faded black hair nodded. ]

... Extremely so. [ He agreed quietly. Pharos managed a funny half-smile. It was odd to speak to himself, but... natural in a seamless way. ] Hello. What name did you pick?

[ Pharos had picked his own name, thus it was natural to assume this other being would do the same. ]

[nyxterious]

[The name he picked? ... That's right. It was one that he picked, just like what he picked when he was Pharos. Of course, with this form, he needed a full name. To attend school, to be a teenager.]

I picked Ryoji. Ryoji Mochizuki.

[A name he enjoyed. A name that made him feel human. It was much nicer than just "Death" of course. He couldn't go to school with that.]

[the_usual_stuff]

[There is no envy that Ryoji exists in his place, nor unhappiness or resentment at his fate. Growing up and giving up an unstable form was inevitable. It was the way of things, that was all. But there was curiosity and a lit of uncertainty; he wondered what he had done once he had taken this older form, cleanly separate from his container(s), and how he had fulfilled his duties, how he had lived, and how he had interacted with people whence he could. Pharos blinked and laced his fingers together behind his back.]

That's a good name.

[He had selected his own on a spur of the moment. It was a name that suited that him. A name he felt associated with himself and what he had done and his containers. It was a good name.]

[nyxterious]

It is, isn't it?

[He thought so too. It's funny, in a way, too. He didn't even realize until after how relevant his last name was to everything, too. It caused him to laugh lightly when he recalled it.]

It was a name that made me happy. A name of my own.

[deathof4thwall]

He was wandering around the city, taking in the sights, when he noticed a flash of fluttering yellow out of the corner of his eye. As always, he glanced over in that direction, at best expecting nothing more than seeing a stranger with good fashion, as usual - and then he freezes.

His lips curl up into a grin that's just a little too wide and toothy, his eyes start to water and his vision flickers with tears, and he starts giggling under his breath. He takes a couple steps back, winds up, and races toward you, shouting your name in a voice that is half laughter, half sob.

"RYOJIIIIIIIII!"

Just a few feet away from slamming directly into you, he launches himself at you in a full body tackle hug, hysterically weeping and creaking with laughter like a rusty hinge.

[nyxterious]

[This is how he dies isn't it. Sure, it was a recognizable voice, but... he wasn't really expecting Minato suddenly be launching himself towards him. So, when he connects, Ryoji falls back with him.

What is even going on.]

M... Minato-kun?

[WHAT'RE YOU DOING]

[deathof4thwall]

He doesn't respond, simply tightening his grip, soaking your shirt with his tears as he mutters something under his breath, occasionally interrupting himself with strangled gasps of laughter.

"ryojiryojiryojiryojiryojiryojiryojiryoji"

He pushes himself up and stares down at you, tears flowing down his face and trickling inside his opened too wide mouth, from which silent laughter is being emitted in body-wracking sobs.

"There's something I have to tell you, Ryoji," he says, his voice far too composed for the situation, as he leans closer to stare directly in your eyes. "From beneath you it devours."

And with that, he's suddenly back to normal, a too-calm mask sliding over his features as he stands up, dragging you up to your feet by your arm, with no sign of the hysterics he was just undergoing. He stands there, one hand in his pocket, the other still gripping your arm, regarding you with dull eyes.

[nyxterious]

[Well this was... interesting. What happened to Minato... ? He seemed normal now of course, but that outburst, and those tears...

It made him sad as well. Of course, he didn't want to see his friends like this.

And what was that about "From beneath you it devours." ... ?]

Are you okay, Minato-kun? What happened?

[deathof4thwall]

He jerks back at that, physically recoiling and letting go of your arm. He stares directly into your eyes, his entire body quivering with some repressed emotion impossible to identify.

"Not you, too! D-don't call me that name!"

He frantically scrapes at his left arm with one hand, leaving red welts on his exposed skin as he continues to babble, pacing wildly.

"One thousand, six hundred, seventy five! Never the same twice until 'Minato, Minato' showed up!"

He suddenly spins around and gets in close to you.

"NO ONE ELSE LIKE ME! You all had names that never changed, but not me! NEVER ME!"

He grabs your scarf and pulls you in to cry on your shoulder, mumbling under his breath.

"that wasn't my name the first time but i can't remember what it used to be, ryoji. why can't i remember my name?!"

[nyxterious]

I'm sorry.

[He honestly has no idea what's happening, but he does know he feels bad for causing that reaction. He hurt one of his friends. Though, what do you do to someone that's crying on you? Well...

He'll just pet the back of his head. There there.]

Is there anything that would help you remember?

[greatseal]

[Yellow scarves always catch Minako's eye. They remind her of a certain person, even though since her arrival in Hinoto-ri, it's never actually been him. Lately she's begun to finally associate it more with Daichi.

But this time, it isn't Daichi. It's actually the ridiculously long scarf she remembers, and its owner is the black-haired boy with suspenders, lost in thought and oblivious to her presence.

Minako stops mid-stride, unsure of what this means. Did Pharos finally become Ryoji? If so.... did that mean he might have no memories? Or there's the other option, that this is some other Ryoji entirely. After meeting that other Minato she can't rule that possibility out. This place does nothing to make meetings easy.

But Minako isn't someone to back down from a challenge. Even if this meeting could - no, probably will be awkward, she has to do it. And so she approaches him, waving.]

Hey, Ryoji-kun!

[Play it cool and cheerful. She's good at that.]

[nyxterious]

[It's kind of a surprise when he hears someone mention his name. Even more so when he doesn't recognize the voice that's saying it. Though, at least there's some familiarity, when he turns around and sees that the person saying his name is from Gekkoukan.]

Oh! Hello. I wasn't expecting to see anyone from Gekkoukan here.

[greatseal]

[That narrowed down several of her theories... She was expecting this, too - it really wasn't likely when it came down to it that Ryoji would remember her, any more than Akihiko and Mitsuru did. However... it still brings her to a screeching halt for a few seconds.

Her smile barely flickers.] Well, there's a few of us here. You'll probably run in to them eventually!

[nyxterious]

Really? [Oh! Well that could. Make things awkward. If it was the Gekkoukan students he was thinking of, anyway. He'll be happy to see them, but that whole Nyx Avatar business was probably bound to make things awkward.

So, to take his mind off of that, let's try to be... somewhat normal... !]

Do you know who, exactly? Though I have to say, I think I'm more interested in you, at the moment. I didn't know there'd be someone as cute as you, here.

[greatseal]

[And it seems Ryoji is the same, no matter the universe. As incorrigible as always... She almost expects Aigis to pop up and call him dangerous.

...But those days are long over, regardless, and now she has to figure out how to explain to him the things he doesn't know.]

It takes a brave guy to use a line like that on a girl whose name you don't remember. [...After she teases him a little. Sorry Ryoji, you're just being too ridiculous, she can't help it.]

[nyxterious]

I happen to be a very brave guy! [Like he braved the hotsprings, even with Mitsuru ready to execute... ! A name he doesn't remember though, hmmmm... that's weird.]

Really? I don't think I could ever forget you, so this is strange. Could you give me a hint, maybe? It must've just slipped my mind. I've had a lot to think about, lately.