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July Intro Log

INTRO LOG

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"Persona, Persona, please come here."

→ I.

The words linger in the back of your mind, but whether it’s your own thoughts or somebody else’s, ceases to matter in light of more pressing things. For one: actual light, mid-summer daylight streaming down upon your face, dust in the air glowing almost golden. Next to your hand lies a cloth omamori, each character’s a different color but all bordered with gold thread, a little black bird stitched in one corner, and… at the bottom...

It is your preferred name, along with another word. For those familiar with tarot, they may recognize it as one of the major arcana. Regardless, it seems to be meant for you, so it might be a good idea to hang onto it.

Looking around, all around you are broken stone pillars and crumbling walls, a spiral staircase that leads to an upper floor that has partially caved in, requiring a bit of a leap to make it to the top. From the outside, the structure looks like a castle, situated in a clearing otherwise surrounded by forest. From the inside, it appears as if no person has been here for a long time. Birds have made their nests in the upper story, eggshells scattered across the floor, and sticks and straw breaking off the nests in the dry summer heat. The occasional woodland animal can be found around the castle, skittish and quick to flee upon approach, but there are also several cats who seem to have no fear for strangers, rubbing against your ankles and padding off again unless you have food to bribe them to stay.

There is also a bear in deep sleep, in the middle of the main hall all characters awake in. Please do not disturb, or you may find yourself in the middle of a bear attack, completely disconnected from any special powers or abilities you may have. Curiously, any injuries you might remember last having seem to be in the process of healing, though by varying degrees, and maybe we shouldn’t undo that! There isn’t a hospital out here in the middle of nowhere, after all. You’ll have to venture out of the castle in search for help like that.

→ II.

A field of dry grass forms the clearing around the castle, with two paths on opposite sides leading into the forest:

A stone path, though broken up and partially buried in the dirt, will lead you out of the forest and towards the town, given you don’t wander off the path to be lost in the woods. But it’s alright if you do! If you keep wandering the forest, you may eventually come across the mountains. And if mountains aren’t an obvious enough sign you should turn back, you can continue through the short mountain range to find yourself back inside the forest; keep on going and eventually you’ll arrive at the opposite side of town. It’s the long way around, but you’ll make it either way.

The road less traveled, however, is one of just dirt, a narrow path that’s been cleared away but after all this time, the weeds have started encroaching again on both sides to reclaim the space. Following this path will take you to a set of stairs, dusty and crumbling but sound enough that you can climb it to the top and find a shrine. A fox yaps at you, and ducks away into the trees behind the shrine. The place could really use some cleaning up, from having the steps swept, to the water in the basin being changed out, to fixing up the sign stating what deity is worshipped here— it’s been broken apart, the name seared off the surface of the rotting wood. Who knows what it used to say…? There doesn’t seem to be anybody around at the shrine, nor anywhere in the forest.

→ III.

Civilization can finally be found in the town, but the people here just look at you curiously, unsure of what you’re talking about if asked about how you got here, and laughing a little when you inquire about the town, though happy enough to talk about their home. ...That’s strange, though? The language spoken here is Japanese, what sounds like an older dialect, and regardless of what you’re used to speaking, you find that you can speak and understand the language here without trouble. How convenient!

While much of the townspeople are bustling around in the mid-day, there are still others more than willing to show you around, or to point you in the right direction if you’d rather wander and explore on your own. Even if you feel like you don’t need a guide, there are plenty of stray cats loitering around the town more than happy to escort you wherever you go. For those who are injured, the walk-in clinic at the hospital has its doors open to treat anybody who needs tending to, for a small fee. Don’t have money? The townspeople are more than happy to hire you on, especially with what seems to be preparation for a festival to be held at the school at the end of the month. The students in the school are also eager to receive what help they can get, building sets, figuring out menus, or creating enough decorations to cover the school twice over.

Whether it’s cooking, mending, delivering, or something else, there’s a variety of odd jobs to be done, and the extra pocket money will serve to be helpful, especially once night falls. The temperature will dip overnight, a dense field of stars covering the sky like a blanket when the sun sets and the moon takes its place, but it’s warm enough in the summer that camping outside is a viable option for those who are used to sleeping outside or want to save money. No worries keeping warm without blankets, either; there’s a good chance a stray cat will wander by and sleep on your face. The inn, rumors have it, is haunted… but it may be the cheapest option if you want a roof over your head and not a broken castle or a cat.

Mod notes:

⬥ There is no Lockdown period for the first week, and as such, Personas cannot be accessed until week 2
⬥ A new post will go up detailing the Lockdown period and Persona summoning process next week, but this post may be used for threads taking place throughout the month
⬥ The name on the character’s omamori is up to player discretion, whether it’s the character’s full name, first or last name, or nickname
⬥ Please see the locations page for visuals and more details about the setting

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Mondo can’t help but stare. He didn’t notice it earlier because the robe she’s wearing was pretty much covering her lower half, but... why is she barefooted. Totally distracted, he didn’t respond to what she said. ]

Ya got no shoes with you? It ain’t smooth land— there’re a buncha tiny rocks and shit ahead. Yer gonna get it hurt!

[ Then again... his shoes would probably be too big for her. ]

Let’s find somethin’ to make do for now!

[ That’s their priority now!! Or at least, that’s what Mondo decided. ]

Oh?

[They look down at themselves, as if just realizing that normal people wear shoes. Mostly because that's exactly what is happening. But it doesn't seem to bother them; they don't really react until Mondo makes his decision, at which time they look at him and hold up their hands in a placating gesture.]

No, you don't have to go out of your way. It doesn't work the same for me, so I won't be hurt at all.

We can just get moving.

[ Mondo halts his steps when the hand was put up, turning back at her. ]

Eh?

[ "Doesn't work the same for me"? So... was he right? Is she not human? He can't exactly ask her that outright, though, can he... ]

Uh. Whaddya mean by that? ...Ya got some extra layers under yer soles or somethin'?

Animals walk all day without shoes.

[It really is as simple as that. There's no reason humans couldn't walk barefoot everywhere, and in fact for quite some time they did. But that's a bit too argumentative for Enkidu to bring up.]

I promise. I'll be fine.

[ But that's... animals. Technically, he can argue some more if he wishes to, but the way she puts it is so final and firm that he doesn't have it in him to be insistent about it. He sighs. ]

...If ya say so. Just be careful, aight? [ He turns ahead to begin leading the way, but turns back again at her. ] Just make sure to tell me if it hurts. I can carry ya. [ These muscles aren't for shows only!!

He'll walk ahead then, figuring that they might have chosen the wrong path all along. There were two paths to choose, and one they picked was the one that led them to the shrine. They oughta go back there and try the other one. ]

Are ya good with memorising shit?

Alright.

[That won't be necessary, Enkidu thinks, but they keep that part to themselves. It's very kind of this human to offer, and they appreciate him looking out for their well-being. Enkidu follows into step easily beside Mondo, letting him make all the navigation decisions for the time being.]

Yes, I am. Why?

[ Through his experiences in Hope's Peak and Wonderland, Mondo has learned that not all females need to be protected ー heck, a bunch of them are a lot stronger than he is. Still, the value that has been planted by his brother since his very young age won't go away completely just like that. Even if subconsciously, the mindset that he's got to protect the females (as that's how he sees Enkidu) is there, so Enkidu walking barefooted honestly bothers him so much. ]

Well... if we get lost later, we can find our way back if one of us're any good at memorising the way. 'm not that bad, but just in case.

[ Don't mind him glancing to your feet time and time again.

He'll keep going, though, or they'll be here all day. He walks towards the direction he took earlier, navigating back to where the path branches off. ]

...Uh, there. This was the way I took to get to the shrine. Was this the same one you took?

[Even without their powers, Enkidu doesn't feel threatened by anything in these woods. Perhaps they will eat their words if something comes to attack them and they realize that more of their power has been stripped away than they thought... but it hasn't happened yet. They're fine with letting Mondo make up his own conclusions, but as the pair walks, they very clearly do not display any pain or bother at walking along the terrain.]

[When they arrive at the fork in the road, Enkidu looks down the shrine path, and then the other one — the one with a village faintly visible in the distance.]

That's right. I didn't want to go into the town, so I took this path deeper into the forest.

[They then turn back to Mondo.]

So, the only road left to us is this third one... if we want to follow the road.

[ There are many things that Mondo wants to say, but those can wait. He's too baffled to hear what Enkidu has to say. ]

Huh?! Won't you normally wanna get there to get settled down or somethin'? Why didn't ya wanna go into town?

[Enkidu shrugs.]

I wanted to see if there was anything we could learn in the woods.

[But clearly there was not.]

It's not that I don't want to go into town, though. I don't mind.

You sure?

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

We can take the 'third' path you mentioned, too.

[ They can always just walk back if it doesn't work out, anyway. She's good with memories, right? ]

It really doesn't matter that much to me...

[This is where Enkidu is about to say his name, but they realize suddenly that they don't actually know his name. They blink and look confused for a moment, like a cat who just got bapped lightly on its snoot.]

Sorry. What's your name?

Yeah? Aight.

[ Well, then Mondo'll go with the path towards the town, then, gesturing for her to come along. It's safer that way... probably. At least better than wandering about not knowing where they're heading to. ]

It's Mondo Oowada. What's yours?

Mondo Oowada.

[Enkidu says it aloud as if that helps them commit it to memory somehow. Or maybe they just wanted to say new words. They don't know enough about the language to identify it as Japanese, though, so they use his first name when they continue speaking:]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Mondo.

I'm Enkidu. —You can also call me Lancer if you like.

[That's it. That's the name.]

Edited 2019-07-17 00:58 (UTC)

O, ou.

[ Getting called by his first name doesn't really surprise him that much because Enkidu... or Lancer, doesn't seem like a normal Japanese person to him. Heck, she doesn't seem like a normal human being in the first place (WHO THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO WALK BAREFOOTED IN THE WOODS), so...

It still does to an extent, though. ]

So uh... Enkidu? What kinda place were ya from?

[That's an interesting question. Enkidu thinks about it. They're not going to tell him Mesopotamia because they're not stupid, and also they haven't been there in several thousand years.]

I was in Antarctica before coming here.

[Then, they get an idea, and continue:]

I worked at a research and security organization. That's why it's so far out.

Edited 2019-07-17 17:25 (UTC)

[ Antartica........ Research.......... Mondo can barely wrap his head around that world. ]

Huh. Were you researchin' 'bout the ice or somethin'? Animals?

[ Like the ever so popular topic... what was it? Global warming? ]

[Ah, but there's the rub, Enkidu would say if they knew that phrase.]

I can't tell you.

[They're smiling, faintly. It's almost playful.]

Confidential.

[ Mondo hums. ]

A trade secret, huh. Well, whatever. 's long as you enjoy it.

[ That faint smile is kind of charming in itself, though. The epitome of mysterious woman... Mondo might not realise it himself, but he's really quite enchanted.

Whoops he just stared at her for a few seconds too long there. ]

A, anyway. We're almost there. You prolly can get somethin' new for your research, considerin' we're... prolly in some other world here.

I enjoy...

[Enkidu actually has to think about this for a moment. Do they enjoy it? Whether they enjoyed mowing down monsters because Ritsuka told them to was never really something they thought about for too long. Was there any part of working at Chaldea that they enjoyed? Of course. Master Ritsuka. The times they got to see Gil. The conversations they've had with other Servants. Those were the parts they 'enjoyed', if one could really say that Enkidu 'enjoyed' anything...]

[The people, they realized, dimly. It was such an easy answer. It shouldn't take them this long. The pause is dragging on to a slightly uncomfortable degree.]

...I enjoy the people I work with, more than the actual work.

So, meeting new people is more important to me than research.

Edited 2019-07-27 23:42 (UTC)

[ Mondo didn't think Enkidu will react to that, especially with it being a few beats slower than the pace of their conversation. It actually is pretty nice to hear something that's relatively more personal than the earlier vague answers, and he listens carefully to it. ]

Yeah? That's also important. [ He hasn't had that many opportunities to work, but he at least knows that having good comrades really help. That's what it was like when his brother led the gang ー everyone's heart was one. It was a lot of fun, that's why they couldn't quit it. ] What're the people you work with like?

[Why does Enkidu do any of the things they do? How do they choose what to react to? Who knows. As simple and as mystifying as an animal.]

Oh, they're very diverse. It's a large organization... a lot of strange personalities. But I feel as though I learn a lot whenever I talk to anyone.

[Enkidu says this with some fondness towards the end.]

We're put into small groups which are shuffled around often. And we all see each other around the base, so it's sort of like a community... even if everyone is vying for Master's attention half the time.

[ The way Mondo sees it, Enkidu felt rather detached, like she wasn't a normal human being when he first talked to her, but when it comes to this topic, she sounds rather... human. He can sort of understand what she's saying - though group shuffles isn't what he ever really experience because in biker gangs, you stay with the same gang for the rest of your bousouzoku life - if he tries to imagine it in some kind of classroom activity, only in a much, much bigger scale. ]

Master?

[ Is she trying to say the, uh... professor? Or something? She works in a research organisation then the top is probably some old man with glasses and white coat, that's his impression on research organisations. They're probably testing things in the lab, making things explode... okay it actually sounds kind of fun when he thinks it that way. ]

[They're more like field expeditions, teams of three to six sent out to accomplish tasks. But Enkidu can't explain that without explaining Rayshifting, and then everything gets needlessly complicated. So they continue to fabricate this mundane version of their workplace.]

That's right. Master Ritsuka.

He's not the highest point of authority in Chaldea, but he's our immediate superior. He's brave, sometimes foolhardy, but very kind and compassionate, an excellent leader... we all like him.

[Slowly but surely Enkidu is getting a bit more animated as they go onto the topic of Ritsuka Fujimaru.]

He's really... much kinder than some of us deserve.

[ That enthusiasm... it's almost blinding, how she just brightens up. It reminds him of how the gang members would get when they talk about Daiya, his older brother. Their eyes were full of hope and dreams, they all chased Daiya's back, feeling safe under his formidable leadership. It was truly their golden time.

That was the kind of leader he could only wish he would be. If only he could inspire that in his subordinates too, back then... well, it's not like he can come back. ]

It must've been real easy to work with him, then. Makes ya wanna work harder when you see someone on top like that, eh? [ Way to punch himself on the stomach. ] My big bro... he was like that, too. I was in a biker gang, y'see. [ Probably a little too obvious from his get-up. ] And he led us all through our rides. We could keep goin' on 'cuz he was our leader.

[ He looks far ahead, then at Enkidu. ]

Bet ya can't wait to go back to see him.

[ He hasn't thought of this in the longest time but... shit, he does miss his brother. ]

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→ I.

→ II.

→ III.

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