[METHOD_LOG_001]

[pastalishe]

Who: Cloche Leythal Pastalia and Minako Arisato
Where: Virgo Shopping District
Summary: Cloche and Minako, after spending a long time together shopping for cute winter clothes, stay out a little too late and get attacked by demons. Cloche awakens to her Persona.
Warnings: Oh no girltalk! Fighting demons!! Eventual Persona summoning!!!

Winter is coming. This isn't a song of ice and fire, but that doesn't change the fact that the weather has been getting colder. Up until now, Cloche has been making do with her Song Magic costumes to deal with the fact that she didn't have any spare clothing... but as warm as Oldmodern Style is, it really sticks out on the streets. It's time for her to bite the bullet and buy some actual clothes.

To be quite honest, Cloche has never bought clothes at all--let alone for herself. On Metafalss, Alfman had hired a stylist to manage her wardrobe and, even after throwing over his regime, Cloche has never had a reason to let the woman go. To make matters more difficult, the shops here carried clothes in styles that she's completely unfamiliar with.

That's why she called Minako. Minako is a young woman comfortable within the city, knowledgeable about the stores, and pleasant company to be around. Cloche adores her big sis, but... Luca would have known exactly why Cloche would want company shopping for clothes. With Minako, Cloche can present the image of a strong, confidant woman who... just wants a little company while shopping! Yes. That's exactly it. No other reason! (Note: For the record, Minako should be given a medal for her patience this afternoon.)

All in all, Cloche feels that this venture has been quite successful. She has several bags worth of warm, comfortable clothing for the winter... and Minako is none the wiser that this isn't just her first time shopping Hinoto-Ri. Cloche is very pleased with herself.

"Thank you for your company, Minako," Cloche says, as they walk out together from the final store. "I truly appreciate it." Can you see the yellow flowers, Minako? Because they're metaphorically there, twirling happily above Cloche's head.

Comments

[greatseal]

"I guess... It's a lot like this one." Minako tilts her head after saying that, because it's really very difficult to describe an entire world. "I mean, there weren't any demons, or a barrier, and most people didn't know about Personas at all, and cars worked a lot differently and some of the other technology is pretty different, too... But Hinoto-ri is supposed to be located in the same country I'm from. So culturally, a lot's still the same."

[pastalishe]

The way technology works in Hinoto-Ri is... truly baffling. Cloche isn't a scientist, but the strange blend of magic and science that powers the COMPs is absolutely unacceptable! Wave Science is a dense subject, but she'd rather study that any day over how technology works here.

"But Personas did exist." That would explain why Minako knows so much about the subject. "Was there some other kind of monster that you needed to protect yourself from?"

[greatseal]

Minako isn't sure about the magic-technology blend, either, but Wave Science would probably baffle her even more...

"Well, we fought Shadows, during the Dark Hour, which was like the 13th hour except only Persona-users experienced it."

[pastalishe]

"How was that possible? Time stops for no one."

There aren't many things in life that are consistent... but the constant march of time is usually one of them. ... including mysterious and supernatural extra hours between one day and the next.

[greatseal]

"Everyone else was still there, they just transmogrified into these things that looked like coffins, so they wouldn't remember it." Doesn't the Dark Hour sound like a pleasant place to be?

[pastalishe]

"How..." Cloche's expression twists a little, as she tries to find a political way to describe it. "Morbid."

As it turns out, there is none. The Dark Hour sounds thoroughly unpleasant.

[greatseal]

"....It was, to be honest." And not that surprising, considering who it ended up being connected to. "But the danger was about the same."

[pastalishe]

"I wonder if elements of danger--such as Shadows and demons--are one of the more common aspects of the worlds we have been brought from." It would perhaps explain why some of them were chosen to "Monsters were common in the uninhabited areas of Metafalss... although they were more of a nuisance than a serious threat."

Alas. Even on an outing with a friend, Cloche can't seem to keep her mind entirely focused on light-hearted topics.

[greatseal]

Minako can see that, but she doesn't entirely mind. "Well, most people back home never knew about Shadows, so they'd tell you monsters don't exist... There's dangerous wild animals in a few places, but these days, people are more a threat to them than they are to us."

[pastalishe]

"The fact that the vast majority of your world's population is unaware of Shadows makes them even more dangerous. Being prepared for an attack is half the battle."

[greatseal]

"Yeah, you're right. No one else knew they were a problem, so we were the ones who had to handle it."

[pastalishe]

A look of sympathy crosses Cloche's face. "That is a tremendous burden to bear. It's good that you didn't have to face it alone."

[greatseal]

"Mm-hm. I was lucky enough to have great friends with me." She'll leave off explaining just how important those friendships turned out to be, but there's still fondness in her tone.

[pastalishe]

"It's truly amazing what one can accomplish with the proper support."

Such as creating a continent.

[greatseal]

She'd be pretty impressed at that one if she knew.

"Then we're extra lucky to have so many people to support us here in the city."

[pastalishe]

Cloche nods in agreement. "I couldn't agree more. There is only one person I know from home here, but..." She smiles. "There isn't anyone else I would rather have by my side."

[greatseal]

"Luca-san, right? You two must be good friends." She missed that whole conversation they'd had with someone else about being sisters, fortunately.

And about then she glances down at her watch. It's the nice one that Shinjiro gave her, and she's been wearing it almost religiously since arriving in the city. Probably hoping he'd notice.

...The dial reads 11:50. "Wow, it's pretty late already... We need to hurry or we'll miss the last train!"

[pastalishe]

"That's correct. She is my dear friend and beloved partner." Thank goodness. It would be horribly embarrassing if Minako knew that Luca was really her sister!

Cloche looks confused--and then a little embarrassed. It's dark out, so she knew it was late... just not that late. "Er, well. ... time does fly when you're having fun."

[greatseal]

...Partner, huh? But there isn't really time to comment on that. "Let's go!" Minako hoists the two bags she's carrying and starts to run towards the nearest station. Unfortunately, in their wandering they seem to have gotten pretty far away... and all around them, other shoppers are doing the same thing. Because of the curfew this wasn't a great time to be outside. "

[pastalishe]

Cloche has never been on the city streets past curfew... and, without a proper Vanguard, she doesn't want tonight to be her first night out. Unfortunately, it's hard for her to keep up with Minako: between her body (which has been optimized for singing, not running) and her high heels, she simply can't maintain a fast pace.

"Minako-- please, slow down..." It's not long at all before she's out of breath and struggling to run.

[greatseal]

Whoops. Minako doesn't wear heels very often at all, so running in them isn't something she thinks about. That, and endurance running is something you pick up quickly in Tartarus.

She slows down. "I'm sorry! Want me to take your bag?" She can do that much to help, at least.

[pastalishe]

"I should be fine..." Cloche smiles for a brief moment, wanly. It's embarrassing enough to be caught in a moment of weakness; she doesn't want to be seen as completely helpless. "How- how far away is the station?"

[greatseal]

"Not that far. We can still make it--"

Except, just around the corner, there's the sound of rumbling and screeching of metal as the last train pulls out of the station.

[pastalishe]

"... that was the train, wasn't it..."

[greatseal]

"....It was."

Ah... ha ha.

"I guess we'll have to walk."