aterat | network [ voice ]

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network [ voice ]

Good afternoon everyone, my name is Mitsuru Kirijo, though I believe I've spoken to at least a handful of you already. Still, it seems polite to introduce myself to those of you I haven't yet spoken with.

[ Her voice is rather formal and proper. Almost as though she were addressing a board at a business meeting. In truth, that wasn't too far off from how she was looking at things here. ]

Since my arrival I've been given a great deal of information and I must admit it was quite a lot to sort through. [ Her voice sounds a bit lighter there, with a hint of a smile hidden in her tone. ] Now that I've had sufficient time to organize my thoughts, I do have a few requests I'd like to make. [ She pauses. ]

To start with, I'd like a map of this place. I have not been here nearly as long as others, so perhaps someone else has something already started that I'm unware of. In that case, I would be more than happy to worth together to see what we can put together. I've been working on my own to compile as much as I can. I...have certain unique abilities that allow me to navigate, though I'm afraid it's much more limited than that of some. [ She pauses for a moment. ] I'm afraid I'm also not much of an artist, so I might require some help transferring my rough notes into something more clear.

[ After a brief pause she gets straight back to business. ] Abilities are another thing I thought we might organize more efficiently. From what I've taken note of there are numerous people here with unique abilities that might prove useful in various situations. I see no purpose in keeping secrets in a place like this, so I am more than willing to discuss my own. More importantly though, I am interested in cataloguing your abilities.

I will be at the Historium for another few hours for those that would feel more comfortable speaking in person. Thank you very much for your time.

[ ooc: if you'd like to meet her in person, feel free to just go straight to action in your comment. She's set up in the back of the Historium at a table that seems to have been purposely picked to obscure her from immediate view. ]

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[ Yes, the implications of what she said struck him rather quickly. It was supposed to be as he knew it, at least in a way, and this Dark Hour and shadows appearing in the real world were her grandfather’s fault. That wasn’t her fault, and the fact that it probably weighed heavily on her regardless hadn’t escaped him. Careless adults, making mistakes and leaving the young with the mess to clean up, it was hard to not feel annoyed by that on her behalf, whether she liked it or not. ]

So, while odd, it’s actually a beneficial side-effect… [ That was something, at least, for the safety of people who just happened to be near. But it also sounded as though it worked for everyone. ] The shadows can lure people out? How do they do that, or… [ He taps his chin thoughtfully, wondering something. ] Or is it somehow tied to the shadow versions of people that exist in that other world? In our… experience, things that happen to one’s shadow self can affect the person in reality in a variety of ways.

[ At her confirmation, he couldn’t help but muse that it was odd, but it seemed as though somehow persona users were bound to meet one another, whether they knew it or not. He certainly couldn’t have guessed either Mitsuru or Shinjiro were when he met them, and yet? ] I shall remember that then, for next time I run into him for the sake of us all being on the same page when it comes to this.

[ It would be wrong to keep someone in the dark on that fact, considering this world might have need of their cooperation at some point. ]

I can’t help but wonder sometimes if there’s a reason for that, or if it’s simply the mark of a leader to be unbothered by such things. [ And Yusuke couldn’t help but wonder himself what this leader of Mitsuru’s group was like. Did he sometimes space out at odd moments too? As though he were a million miles away? ]

I see… [ Yusuke responded carefully. The idea of being misled was not a welcome thought. Even if he knew she might have a good point… And… ] I recognize what you say as a sensible warning to take into consideration, but we also cannot simply do nothing when people need help. Turning a blind eye to the ugly truth of situations is not something I’m willing to do again. [ He frowned slightly, brows furrowing. ] But I also recognize that not everyone who can go to that other world means well, of which we’re trying to learn more about.

Yes, one of the few beneficial things we were given. [ It really was a situation that involved taking what one could get and making the best of it. Or...well, she wasn't even certain if she could say they made the best out of it. Everything seemed to actually be going the worst it possibly could. ]

They have a number of ways, but it seems the most common is impersonating the voice of someone familiar. In one particular situation it seemed to have preyed upon guilt to lure it's victims out. [ That seemed to be the most common way they managed to lure people out to feed upon. She shook her head at h is question. ] To be honest, we're not particularly certain what these shadows are. We have theories, but theories are all we have. [ He had no idea how utterly frustrating that was for her to admit to. She did find her curiosity peaked by his mention of a shadow self though. ] We've never encountered something such as a shadow self [ What a disturbing thought to think the other world just kept changing and evolving. Did that mean that no matter what they did there truly was no way to put an end to it all?

She rubbed her arms awkwardly and fell silent for a moment. ]Ah- Shinjiro does not always like to talk about his Persona. [ He didn't need protection, she knew that, and yet she still found herself trying to. If he ever found out he'd more than likely be annoyed, but she was used to that. ] So, forgive him if he comes off as a bit gruff. I'll be certain to inform him of what you and I have discussed. [ Hopefully she'd remember. She gave him a tiny smile. ] I hope you two can get along though. It would be nice for him to have others. [ He really could use with some actual friends beyond the original SEES trio. The same could be said for her, but she'd never think of that herself. ]

Perhaps there's simply more they know. Our leader has particularly...unique abilities compared to the rest of us. He's capable of summoning more than one Persona. [ Which was utterly unheard of and made him exceptional among them all. There were probably things he kept to himself about the nature of that ability, but Mitsuru trusted him enough to respect any decision he might make.

She frowned and cast her gaze down. ]I-I...can certainly understand not wanting to avert your eyes from the truth in front of you. [ While it was nice to talk to someone outside of SEES about these things, it was also a bit....bittersweet. To think an entirely other group of young adults had found themselves in a similar situation involving this other world. Not just that, but evidently they'd also found themselves involved with people who had ill means for the use of the power in that place. ] It seems there will always be people willing to use the power that place provides for their own purposes.

[ The more Mitsuru explained, the more he realized how different their situations were. Was it only because of the experiments that the situation was so different, or were there certain conditions of places that made shadows and the metaverse different? ]

Your shadows sound so very different from the ones we’ve encountered? There are shadows that are simply born of human emotions, gathering in places either in service to a more powerful shadow-self of someone or simply wandering mementos… Even shadows that are cognitive versions of a person that the shadow-version of someone knows. [ Unless you were just seen as an object… But he moved on rather quickly. ] But there are, indeed, shadow versions of people as well.

I see… So it’s a subject I should be careful of? [ Yusuke had at least gotten an idea of Shinjiro’s personality, though now that he knew the man had a persona as well, it was hard to not wonder about why he wouldn’t want to speak of it. ] I have met him rather recently, and I discovered he is a bit gruff, as you say. A man of few words… [ Short, but to the point. Shorter still, if he didn’t want to talk about something. Which was a bit difficult to read, but… The man had also discerned that Yusuke needed to eat and gave up his sandwich rather easily at that. ] He also seems rather kind, under that demeanor.

[ Now that particular bit of information gets the teen’s attention. ] He does? Why, our leader has that ability as well. It’s truly a wonder, and we’re unsure of why his skills are so different from our own. [ But perhaps Mitsuru was right… Perhaps their leaders both knew more than they did about all of this. But, like Mitsuru, he trusted Joker more than most people. The other had not led them poorly before. ]

Then you know why we take the risk of using such an app, I’m sure. I myself have done so in the past… and I to do so again would be reprehensible. [ As suspicious as it might be, they had come too far to turn away from it. Even if there may be trouble waiting for them down the line… But he nodded with a troubled frown. ] There are… It’s starting to become more clear that someone is using it all for their own gain, but we have not yet pinpointed who may be behind it.

[ Mitsuru blinked and then suddenly started to write very quickly in a notebook beside her. ] It seems that these things manifest in quite different ways despite our similar terms. [ She supposed it made sense, however it certainly was strange to think of such drastic differences. ] Unfortunately, there's still quite a lot about the Fall and Tartarus that we don't understand. [ It was possible there were similarities to be found that she just wasn't aware of yet. ] And what is mementos?

[ She gave him a small nod. ] You'll be hard-pressed to find a more trustworthy and reliable partner in battle than Shinjiro. However he...it's a complicated situation. [ It also wasn't her story to tell, so she simply stopped there. ] Don't let him hear you say that. Or do, but only if you tell me how it went after. [ Even she could make jokes now and then. She raised an eyebrow curiously. ]

So they both possess that ability... how strange. Until we found him we had no idea it was even possible. [ There was so much about even that ability that they didn't know. Was it possible there were even more of them out there? Ah, well, there was no way to figure that out here. It seemed like similarities were being added just as quickly as differences. ]

As have I. [ Her voice was soft and she cast her gaze down. At least it seemed as though he didn't want to open up about his experience. Perhaps that would mean he wouldn't press her for her own. It seemed enough that they both recognized they shared a similar lesson. She paused for a second before her curiosity took hold. ] Could you explain more about what this person is doing?

Makes one wonder how much more we don’t know. [ He mused, watching as she began writing details down. What if there were more variations and situations than this? Between this discovery, and ending up in an entirely different world… Countless realities and kinds of alternate situations didn’t seem far-fetched.

As she paused and refrained from saying too much about Shinjiro and his situation, it rather reminded him of how Shinjiro hadn’t said much about Mitsuru’s, either. Teammates watching out for one another and protecting their histories. He couldn’t fault that, considering he knew his teammates would do the same. He offered a small smile though, as she suggested he should tell the other about how kind he had been. ] Should I have the chance, I will fill you in. It seems rude to not thank someone for showing kindness, but I do get the distinct feeling he would shrug it off.

[ It seemed that their leaders were very similar people as far as skills went. ] From what I understand, it is not a talent anyone else in our group possesses or knew was possible either. I joined the group later, so I have no firsthand knowledge of when they discovered this ability. [ Tilting his head thoughtfully, Yusuke had to wonder. ] Does your leader ever seem like he’s a million miles away? One minute ours is focused and as we’re about to embark on something, and then suddenly he just seems to stop and get lost in his thoughts?

[ Part of Yusuke wondered what her experience was… The other was grateful she hadn’t asked for more information about what he meant. Today had already been a lot of sharing on both their parts, though, and so he let the matter rest for now as he was distracted by her question. Thinking back on what little he knew, he shook his head. ] When I… Joined the team, we were informed of another persona user in a black mask who could enter the metaverse as well. Someone outside our group. Then later in another palace, we were informed that this person has been using such places for their own personal gain. They apparently have no reservations about causing psychotic breakdowns or mental shutdowns to accomplish whatever it is they’re trying to achieve.

It would seem safe to say there's quite a lot we don't know. Even my grandfather had a considerable amount he didn't fully grasp. [ And he'd been researching it for...well, for a long time before his death. It really was something to think about just how much there was they didn't know. In a way it made her feel even more foolish for thinking they'd figured the situation out back home. ]

You'd be correct in thinking that. [ She smiled gently at the thought of Shinji rebuffing him after offering his gratitude. That would certainly be how things would go given his track record. At least it was nice to hear that they'd managed to have a good initial exchange with one another. She was quite worried he'd make rather negative first impressions with people around here.

Her eyes widen at the question and she nods. ] Yes. Quite often he seems like that prior to us entering Tartarus. [ Sometimes people pointed it out, but more often than not they simply moved on when he was ready. Perhaps, looking back, it was a bit strange that she'd never really thought too much on it prior to this. ] We've left most battle decisions up to him, so we leave when he's prepared, however...he does indeed have a tendency to get lost in his own mind it would seem. [ How strange that both their leaders had that tendency. What could it mean? ]

What could one possibly gain from causing psychotic breakdowns or mental shutdowns in others? [ Her tone was firm and clearly implied she was quite offended by the idea that someone would do that. Then again, was it really that different from her own grandfather's experiments? They'd led to such things happening with increasing frequency and she still was uncertain what his ultimate goal was. ] How disgraceful to show such disregard for the lives and safety of others.

[ He smiled a little at the comment, yes it seemed as though Shinjiro was the sort to brush off and deny the assistance he offered was no big deal. Even if it really had been at the time… It made it hard to dislike him, even with his slightly gruff nature. ]

But at the mention of her team’s leader shared that odd trait as well? He found himself rather intrigued by the notion. ] It would seem our leaders both share several odd similarities. We have never worked out why that was either, but… Perhaps there’s a connection. [ But, as she said, they trusted him explicitly and often moved on when he was ready to head into a palace or mementos. So it had been nothing more than an odd curiosity. That was hard to not notice when they waited to begin. ] Likewise, it’s always before we’ve moved to enter mementos or a palace as well. He’s very focused once we’re inside.

[ Her question gets a small shake of his head. ] We haven’t discovered much more than I’ve stated, I’m afraid. One could presume for power or status of some sort, for a start… But whatever reason there is, I confess I too found it quite deplorable. We are hoping to find out more as we continue, to put an end to it as well, if we can.

Perhaps we'll get the chance to ask them both sometime. [ Either here or back in their own world. Though from what she understood they wouldn't remember this upon their return. The strangest part however seemed to be how similar the two leaders were. It lead to her wondering what precisely caused the similarity. Was it perhaps something to do with how they got their abilities?

She shook her head and frowned even more. Who knew that was possible? ] How could one not find something like that deplorable? Only someone truly depraved would do that to others for something such as power or status. [ Disgusting. ]

I hope you're able to put a stop to whomever it is that's doing this. I wish I could offer my aid. [ But obviously that was impossible. It was pretty terrible to think these things were going on without her knowledge. ]

I hope that we may, here or in our own worlds. [ Although, Yusuke was rather hoping for sooner rather than later. The fact that he was missing his friends might have been a factory, of course, but Mitsuru could probably understand that herself.

But he offered a nod in return to her frown. ] In my experience, the world is full of such abhorrent adults, doing what they please for their own gain… But thank you, the thought is appreciated regardless of your ability to assist. Likewise, if I were aware of this strange hour and situation in our world that seems tied yet so different from our own, I would have wanted to offer help as well- undoubtedly most of my group would.

[ It was a shame they wouldn’t be able to help each other out, given they wouldn’t have any knowledge of these things when they went back. There was no telling how much knowledge or experience they could benefit from having the other involved in some way. ]

But I suppose we’re also have our work cut out for us in this world, and we can hopefully work together during our time here.

[ and on that note, his eyes drifted back to the map. This was definitely a project worth working on. ]

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