Ex parte

[viditlibertas]

Who: Al Saiduq (NPC version), generic NPC civilians, and you!
Where: Libra Ward, anywhere within it.
Summary: There still seems to be some civil unrest in Hinoto-Ri. You may want to help that floating albino guy deal with it...
Warnings: Possible discussions of the Anoli attack, NPCs being NPCs.

Saiduq was not one who...walked. He could do the motion like most other humanoid-beings, but it felt awkward and unnatural to one who was not beholden to gravity. If he wanted to go from point A to point B, he teleported, or flew. That was it. Even Hinoto-Ri hadn't given him a need to alter that pattern.

Apparently that had drawn the ire of a few people, however, given he'd been all but dragged in to an anti-Guests conversation. And yet, despite the nature of the conversation, he didn't seem aware that his hovering and curious, neutral speaking tone were just irritating the citizens even more. If anything, he just seemed to grow even more confused as the civilians grew more aggravated. Dare you get involved?

((If you tag in, we'll set up the overheard conversations. So, please wait for both the NPC and this account to tag before responding!))

Comments

[hinoto_npcs]

“You’re all just swanning about like celebrities!” a young teenager was yelling. “All, with your freaky abilities and – and I even saw some tentacle freaked visitor killing people at the stadium, like, decapitating them and hauling off their skulls! Do we really want to live with people like that?!”

[hinoto_npcs]

“What if they start attacking us?!” a woman shouted her agreement. “How will we defend ourselves?! They have Persona, and their own powers…!”

[hinoto_npcs]

“They’re a menace, that’s what they are!” a loud voice yelled, a small crowd centring around Alcor. “They’re the cause of the attack on the stadium! All those people died because of them! And what happens? The government gives them whatever they want – whatever you want!”

[hinoto_npcs]

“We want answers!” a young woman was shouting. “Why is it that only you are getting benefits and help?! We’re all struggling here, we’re open to attack by the Anoli, and, and you’re all just playing around, as if our city was your personal playground?!”

[hinoto_npcs]

“This is our city, not yours!” someone shouted in agreement. “We don’t want you here anymore…!”

[hinoto_npcs]

“Some people don’t even have enough money for housing or food!” the ringleader was yelling, jabbing a finger dangerously in Saiduq’s direction. “And yet the visitors get everything they could possibly want just by existing?! Where’s the justice in that?!”

[viditlibertas]

Saiduq's brows just furrowed deeper, quickly swayed by the despair and anger of the crowd.

"I would like to believe that humanity ultimately decides it's own fate, but..."

The trail off was strange, and pretty much proof he was more focused on being anguished than he was being worried about his safety.

[viditlibertas]

Saiduq gave the man providing assistance a curious look, before turning back to the irate group with a more blank expression.

"Was it not the mayor who called the Anoli to the stadium? I had thought that was the situation."

[viditlibertas]

"Many Guests seek to provide aid to this city, however they are not able to aid everyone."

His voice was calm and metered, but there was an edge of sadness in his eyes. It wasn't that he was unsympathetic, just...practical? It was hard to place.

"The threat of the Anoli existed before the Visitors, and would continue if they were to leave."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Aw frig...

Kaito continues making his way through the crowd, but everyone's becoming more agitated. What does he...he can't think...!

"Nobody's doomed! As long as humanity exists, nobody's truly doomed!"

It's unclear whether or not Kaito thought this through (does he ever?) but either way, he's at least taking the attention off of Saiduq. Now, to talk out things with everyone while being a visitor...

[viditlibertas]

That, it seemed, made Saiduq give pause, tilting his head down in something akin to shame.

"Believing strongly in something can give one the power to do amazing things. But, willpower alone is neither good nor bad. The power of Persona is the same- it is how one utilizes their dream that will decide their future."

[ghost_shield]

Nick nods. "Well, he was the one who initially proposed using the tendency towards rumors coming true as a method of luring in the Anoli. Which was a pretty stupid and nasty idea to begin with."

He turns back to the angry crowd. "I'm terribly sorry you feel that way. We're still rather confused as to the reasoning behind our summoning here ourselves. It troubles me that our presence is causing you all any problems. Perhaps there's something we can do to rectify the problem? I'm sure many of us would leave you all if we could, but since we're here, we might as well find a way to coexist." He expects the requests to be... less than reasonable, but diplomacy requires attempting to find a middle ground.

[viditlibertas]

"I do not suspect that any Visitor would bring the people here to harm."

Suspect being the keyword. He'd be outright lying if he guaranteed it. How was he to know who Philemon would draw across the veil next?

"Even if one Guest did try such, others would stop them, as would your government."

[viditlibertas]

The voice that responded back seemed quiet, but oddly familiar...even if the shape it was taking wouldn't be, should Yu crane himself around to check.

"We were not the cause of the attack. Nor did we request anything from your government. Their generosity is as odd to us as it is to all of you."

[viditlibertas]

"We did not ask to be here. Many would probably prefer to be home."

His tone was firm, but his expression wasn't. If anything, Koromaru would be able to sense the radiating depression coming from the star more than anyone in the crowd.

"But, our presence was requested, and we have a duty to attempt to give aid where we can."

[tyrantball]

Desco, who is floating next to Weird Floaty Guy, nods her head in agreement, tentacles flexing.

"That's right! Humans should not fight humans!"

[viditlibertas]

Saiduq seemed more concerned about the finger, moving away from it and almost backing himself in to the rest of the group. Being surrounded wasn't too problematic when you can fly, but it still wasn't very comfortable with all this invasion of his space.

"None of these things are born from requests we have made." He was trying to sound placating, but his natural monotone was working against him. "I do not require housing or food, and gave up my resources due to this."

[firstofthefallen]

"It seems I am." Louisa's response is amused, a small smile playing at her lips before she turns back to Alcor's "accusers".

Louisa rests a finger just underneath her lip, a small "hmming" hum escapin her lips as she thinks of a response. It's show, in part; she knew what her response would be even before the woman of the two had stopped speaking.

"I see. It must be humiliating, of course, to feel ou've been supplanted in your own homeland. That strangers to this land should have more than you, who might rightly deserve it.

And so, I ask: aside from living within this city, what do you do for the city?"

[capitalbackup]

It's not difficult for Miyako to notice the commotions, or for her to sensed a very familiar presence.

Her first instinct was to turn around and walk away. However, that would mean missing out on potential information. Miyako walked a little closer to the crowd, listening to the heated discussion (if you can call it that) without a word.

[linefacingforever]

Wait... that voice...? Yu shuffled over a bit, craning his head over to see the white-haired boy with his back to him. It... sounded like the cube that had popped up on him his first day in Hinoto-Ri, but... there was no way, right?

Still, regardless of who the soft spoken person was, this "conversation" was probably going to get really ugly, really fast. He paused, glancing back to where he had left his cane propped up against the side of the house. He didn't really need it anymore -- he was getting around a lot better now -- but...

He went to collect his cane, leaning on it as he went back out to the sidewalk, shuffling toward the crowd.

[greatseal]

Minako agrees with Saiduq's assessment of the power of Persona, but instead addresses it indirectly, turning to the man speaking to the crowd. "Excuse me... Have you tried talking to Visitors before today?"

[whereibelong]

The words of the ringleader couldn't have been better-picked to sting. While her own existence was less of a bone of contention with herself as it had been a year and a half ago, it still hurt when hit the right way. Like it was now.

She hadn't been meaning to speak, but the words seem to come unbidden.

"He's right," she said, loudly enough to be heard, her good hand clenching tight into a fist, "We didn't ask for any of this. We didn't ask to be chosen to come here, or be given what we were." By the government or by Philemon. "We never asked for any of that!"

She hadn't asked to exist, with all the problems her life had caused. But here she was, and if there was one thing she had learned at the very least, it was that disappearing didn't help anyone.

[hinoto_npcs]

"W-Wha-?"

It seemed that question left the woman from earlier a bit wrongfooted.

[hinoto_npcs]

But the ringleader picked up the slack quick.

"What are you implying with that? Are you putting forth a type of, of, meritocracy?! Only the useful and strong deserve to live in this city? That's bullshit!"

[hinoto_npcs]

"But he said-!" the woman shouted, pointing wildly at Alcor. "That this society isn't going to survive! Is that why you're giving everything to the visitors?! Have we been abandoned?!"