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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

[ Oh, he's really into it. It's funny, how much he sticks with the story like that, though... there's something cool about it too, just the idea of being in a gang is really cool, having people to watch your back and going around having gatherings and missions and the such. Kido wants to believe she's grown out of that sort of thing, but it's still pretty cool. ]

Ha... I guess we'll just have to hope there's a bike shop somewhere, and you'll have to show me.

[ He frankly wasn't sure what kind of reaction he'll get, so the response catches him off guard. ]

Huh? Uh, yeah! [ His voice then regains its volume. It's not full-on smile he's wearing, but his expression visibly brightens up. ] Even if they only have parts, I can build one, too! [ He then turns his head her way. ] You ever ridden one?

Huh. Building one is something I'd like to see.

[ In all honesty, hearing that he can build a motorcycle is a lot more impressive than being able to ride one, which Kido just sort of assumes is like riding a regular bike, except easier because the wheels are much thicker? ]

But as for riding one, no, I haven't. I don't really go out much, and taking the bus is fine if I need to get anywhere.

[ She's also like... 16 or 17, so who knows if she'd be legally allowed to ride one anyways. ]

[ What are legal issues to Mondo... ]

Yeah? I'll be sure to call ya over when I do, then. I built one at... [ Wonderland. But that's weird to say aloud. ] ...the place I was at before I came here. [ More like sucked? Summoned? Y'know. ] 'Twas kinda challenging, but real fun. You get to customise it to your liking, and learn shit from it, too! Shame there ain't no tracks to run it freely then.

[ It's kind of obvious, but she really is the complete opposite type to him. ]

What kinda place are ya from?

[ Yeah, if he mentioned Wonderland, she would have turned around and walked right back up the stairs.

Building a motorcycle seems to be a lot more complicated than she thought, trying to imagine what could even be customized besides the color and maybe softer seats? Motorcycles are way beyond her, way too flashy and way too noisy for her to be comfortable ever using, even if she thinks it's cool watching people drive by on them. ]

Home? Hmm... It's a city pretty different from a place like this. Where I lived before that, though, there was a huge forest behind the house.

[ Her brother would play in there all the time, but she never did. Thinking of that, though, reminds her of something from before- ]

From the top of the steps, it looks like the forest doesn't continue on forever. It definitely ends at a certain point, if we keep walking the direction we're going.

[ Mondo hums in response. She doesn’t seem like the one who wants to talk much about herself, but he can’t help feeling curious. Who knows, maybe someone here actually comes from the same world that he was from. Not that it really matters either way, but it doesn’t seem like that with her. ]

Yeah? For a city girl you seem pretty chill about all these, tho’.

[ He thought normally they’ll freak out more at how dirty and gross everything is. Anyway, what she said makes him look up. ]

Birds’re flockin’ ahead. We might be gettin’ close. A good sign is when we spot bugs swarm, I heard.

[ If she knew what he was thinking, she would probably laugh, though not out of humor. Her life used to be like that, fancy dresses and huge mansions and not a speck of dust to be seen- and she hated it.

Unfortunately, what she hates even more are bugs. And a bug swarm? Haha, screw that. ]

I think I'm going to go back to the shrine and wait. Bye.

[ Good bye!!!! Kido turns around to leave so she can go somewhere indoors and not have to worry about bugs, they're so creepy and gross and scary and eww ]

[ ?!? ]

Oi, hold up hold up... what do ya mean with going back to shrine and wait? The water's not gonna come to you if you don't come to it--

[ ...Wait. Could it be... ]

--Are ya scared of bugs?

No! Shut up! I'm not scared!!

[ She stomps up the stairs as fast as her aching stomach will allow her to, shouting back at Mondo without so much as a pause. ]

[ Alright, that was totally his bad. Mondo quickly follows after her, tugging the back of her hoodie so she won't go any further. ]

Wait up... 's just an example, don't mean they're gonna be there for sure. You don't wanna die from dehydration now, do ya?

[ Urk— Kido stops, not because she doesn't want to trip backwards down the stairs, but because she doesn't want him to stretch the hoodie out, oversized as it already is, bringing her hand up to slap Mondo's away if he doesn't immediately let go of it. ]

...It's a forest in the middle of summer, so there will be bugs everywhere.

[ Gross... it's fine as long as she doesn't think about it, but now that she's thinking about it, she's just going to imagine bug swarms every time something itches. She tugs her sleeves down a little more over her hands before shoving them into her jacket pockets. Like this, with her hood up and with long sleeves and pants, she's completely covered up, the only skin showing being her eyes and, like... one pant leg rolled up to her knee, which google tells me is a fashion statement symbolizing her membership in a gang, because she thinks that's cool... That one leg is going to be covered in bug bites by the end of the week. ]

But— ugh, fine, alright! The faster we get there, the sooner we can get out of here. Go on, hurry up and lead the way.

[ And that's a direct slap to Mondo's hand ー it was still there just in case she slips. He doesn't mind it, though, he's more concerned at the way she's trying to cover herself. It's a pretty hot day today, he just hopes she doesn't pass out before they get some water. ]

Aight, aight. [ At least she complies.

He'll pick up the pace a bit, gauging how far she's able to keep up. Going down the slope is kind of tricky as it's pretty slippery, so he'll make sure to check up on the girl from time to time just in case. ]

Just over that valley there's the direction the birds went to. We might be closer than we thought.

[ If they listen carefully, they can hear the sound of running water from afar. ]

[ Three layers was never a problem when she would never leave the apartment anyways and there's air conditioning on all the time... But if she's uncomfortable in the heat, she doesn't show it, being more uncomfortable if she takes all her layers off, so she'll just deal with the heat and the pain and the unnerving thoughts of bugs crawling around everywhere.

She keeps silent as she walks, her gaze always moving, looking to the ground or vaguely off to the side every time Mondo glances back to check on her— he's tall enough and his hair is ridiculous enough, that she won't lose him if she stays right behind his heels- and doesn't even notice the sound of running water or the chirping of birds roosting in the trees near the river.

She's definitely somebody who habitually keeps an eye out for things, but definitely not an ear. ]

[ It's always been hearing for Mondo. Sneak attacks are a thing in gangs ー they come faster than the eyes can catch sometimes. He stops looking behind him after some time, because come to think of it... he doesn't really need to. He can tell where she is with her footsteps and just her general 'existence'. Heck, (almost) anyone can tell when someone's right behind them.

The rest of their walk goes silently, which is preferable as this way so he can focus on the sounds of nature, and let his instincts control where they go. So far, so good. The majority of time they keep going down slopes and going up climbs, but there's always a clear path, albeit not always very easy to walk on.

The further they go, the closer the sound of water becomes ー it might be audible enough even for Kido at this point. ]

We're almost there. 's good we're not seein' any bugs so far, eh?

[ Just as he says that, something rustles from within the long and unkempt tufts of grass by their side. ]

[ With the ability to completely erase her existence, not having that reveals all the ways Kido doesn't think about having to keep quiet, from her breathing to how she drags her feet in the dirt and leaves instead of picking up her feet, soft hums under her breath when she spots something interesting (aka cute rabbits or the occasional cat) or when she lifts her head to listen to the sound of water or prepare to kick Mondo's ass for bringing up bugs again.

But as much as she doesn't pay attention to sound, she can't miss the rustle when she's in hypersensitive fight-or-flight mode so she screams before she can help herself and starts shoving at Mondo's back so they can RUN, WHAT IF IT'S A BUG!!!!! or a bear or something similarly dangerous ]

[ There's so much you learn from when you keep your ears open to sounds. Mondo doesn't always listen closely to the soft noises the girl made, but enough to notice that she's a lot more expressive than she is when facing him ー though he hadn't made the effort to look at what she'd been reacting to. As long as she's there and isn't threatened.

Upon hearing the rustle, Mondo halts instead, telling her to ssshh just in case. If it really is something dangerous, it'll be worse if they run. It's best to keep moving, but slowly. Big quiet steps, just like the Pink Panther. So he starts doing just that, gesturing for the girl to follow him while keeping his eyes on where he thinks the noise comes from.

More rustling happen, prompting him to pick up the speed a little more, and the situation continues untilー the building up climax concludeｓ with one loud rustle, followed by a shadow pouncing out of the greens.

Roarrrr!!! Have fear, humans. For it is...

A cat?

It's definitely bigger than any strays they would find in town, and doesn't look like any cats Mondo's seen in his life, but... it's still a cat. ]

The hell, 's just a cat...

[ Or is it really? ]

[ Don't say that!!!

It's a blind panic that Kido always finds herself in when dealing with the unknown, white noise in the back of her head, knees weak and threatening to give and be utterly unreliable for running away like she wants to do. If it were just herself, she'd have bolted already, but it's stupid pride that keeps her close behind now, steeling herself for the... cat...... ]

Ha... Haha, it's just a cat! What're you so worked up about?

[ She claps Mondo on the back, as if she weren't scared out of her wits just a second ago. The sweat dripping down her face is just because she's wearing three layers of clothes under the summer sun, nothing to do with being scared.

The cat pounces of Mondo's shoes looking for shoelaces to chew on. ]

A... ahahaha! You too!! What were you freezing up for?!

[ They were both totally NOT spooked. Absolutely not.

It takes Mondo a few seconds to finally move, squatting down to pet the (not so) little one. ]

Here, kitty kitty. [ He then looks up to the girl, gesturing for her to join him. ] You good with cats? ...Never seen a cat with this kinda pattern, tho'. 's like a leopard.

[ ........Kido closes her eyes. Opens them. The cat remains very cute and very large, and she's got to exercise great strength of will not to crouch down and pet it too. ]

I'm fine just watching. [ She loves cats, but forest cats are wild cats, way different than strays wandering the streets living a passive life of head scratches and canned tuna. ]

...Maybe you know: do leopards live in forests?

[ Is this, by any chance, a leopard. Mondo????? ]

[ Mondo stares at her. ]

Huh. That's a good question. I think they live in mountains, I dunno 'bout forests. Aren't those tigers?

[ Even if it is leopard, it's a baby??? Okay maybe not baby but young??? Enough??? It's ok???

The 'cat' in question, however, doesn't seem to appreciate the touch, as it begins snarling lowly, glaring. ]

Uh. Looks like he [ She?? ] don't like it. [ Slowly steps back, gesturing for Kido to boot it carefully... ]

[ Tigers live in... uh... jungles? Seto would know better, but this doesn't look like a jungle to Kido— it's hot, but it's a dry heat without the humidity that she would associate with jungles. ]

There are mountains around here... just far away...

[ Slowly... backing off... There really is no good escape route, though, because cats can swim and they can also climb trees and they probably know the forest a lot better than the two of them do, if it decides to go into hunter mode.

They'll just have to do it like this. ]

Hey. Left or right?

[ Yeah, there are more of them at tropical areas, which is not here, and not the main issue right now. Mondo's not sure what it is, it might as well be leopard ー either way, Mondo's alarm is ringing off. ]

Hah? Uh, right? [ He whispers, as if afraid the cat can understand them: ] You gonna bolt?!

[ She's going to bolt.

Bleeding stomach or not, Kido turns left and runs. ]

[ Ahh, so that'sー dash Mondo goes to the right!! For a sec, before he realises something: she's wounded and running might cause her to bleed again. If that really is a leopard, it'll track her from the smell and the chances of it running after her instead of him is high.

True enough, the 'cat' begins prowling, seemingly to be watching Kido instead of Mondo. Even if she doesn't 'smell', she is smaller in size, and thus an easier target. ]

Fuck!

[ He'll take a roundabout, running after her instead. ]

[ WHY.....

The cat, seasoned hunter as it is no matter how young, is silent, but Kido doesn't miss Mondo yelling behind her and she chances a glance over her should to see why he sounds so close.

It's because he's stupid!! ]

You're running the wrong way!! Stupid!!!!

[ What's the point of splitting up if they're both going to chase after her?! ]

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ I.

→ II.

→ III.

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