expulse | (no subject)

[ eats a few noodles... ]

It's been hit and miss? Tsukasa kept his cat ears when they returned until after we'd talked through some stuff, but Mafuyu and Edamura lost theirs right away.
Where did you guys even go?

To the sea. We were searching for a treasure.

[ Was this... One Piece? ]

But ran into a hive mind town all controlled by a black substance.

[ the strawhat of it all... he does lift both eyebrows because why did you go there? ]

What kind of treasure?
Is that why you guys were covered in stuff...?
You didn't get stuck in the hivemind too, did you?

[ they needed supplies... ]

I don't know. None of us did, only that we wanted to find it.

[ They did not do things according to the cyoa runners plans though. ]

We were on the verge of it. Hien was the most affected.

Great. Another example of implanted memories. How annoying.
Did you guys split up at any point to make it different? In terms of who was affected, I mean.

Yes, for the majority of the second half.

[ Eats some noodles. ]

We split up to find the source of the infection. [ ... ] Did you discover what causes these?

So far it sounds like our group's the one who stayed together the most. The only times we really split up, we were still close by to each other.

[ he cups his chin in his hand as he thinks this over. ]

I haven't though, no. That's what even more frustrating. I also don't understand why it's some people but not others.

Perhaps we needed a nudge to start bonding.

Though I don't think Hien and Lucien are lacking in that regard.

[ he wonder what that says about the four of them who went first. ]

Does that mean you think you're lacking yourself?

[ Smiles because it's kind of Yosuke to ask. ]

I've never had much interest in people.

[ Or skill. But Sylus is too arrogant to ever say that. ]

I did get that impression.

[ sylus was outright kind of annoying, but once yosuke stopped being annoyed about it he started thinking more about it. ]

Too much of a hassle to deal with them? There has to be some people you have an interest in here after so many weeks.

Some of you are fascinating.

[ Because you're so insane. ]

I wouldn't say it's the same as affection. [ A pause. ] I don't mind your company.

[ there's a soft laugh because fascinating is such a polite way of saying unhinged, because he would agree. but he stops then because he's more surprised by that. it's been weeks so you'd think he'd be less shocked people like having him around, but it does not undo months of damage immediately. ]

I will admit that I'm glad you were okay with me coming by. I wasn't sure if that was, like, an overstep.
Pretty sure I already told you how I feel about that sort of thing anyway.

[ about wanting to listen to people and not ignore them no matter how difficult they are. ]

I'm glad you decided to ask despite the uncertainty.

[ He can respect people going after something without knowing if it'll work out the way they want. Even for something as small as this. ]

What was that power you used against Hien?

[ he flashes a little smile. he's glad, too. but he kind of goes ":o" at the question. ]

Oh. It's called a Persona. You can think of it kinda like a summon that's tied to me.

[ Looking interested. ]

You're a summoner? Did you two forge a pact...?

[ luckily he's already kind of had to figure out how to explain it in other world terms, so the response comes easily. ]

Yes and no. When I say it's tied to me, I mean that it's technically a part of me. It was something born from me, and when I tamed it and agreed to accept it, it transformed and became my power. The stronger I get, the stronger it gets.
Right now it's in its highest form.

[ So like if Shiro used Archer as a summon... He nods. ]

So it's a manifestation of... your passion? Your fear? Your ideal self?

[ this comparison. ]

A little of all of the above.
Where we're from, there's a place on the other side of the TV. It's a whole other world, and it's where these monsters called Shadows live.
The whole world is the subconscious of humanity, and Shadows are everybody's hidden feelings or things they don't want people to know.
If they're strong enough, they'll form a strong Shadow.
But if you accept that Shadow, it'll become a Persona.

[ he is skipping a few steps but he thinks that's a good gist of it. ]

[ It's not exactly right, but it sounds funny. But, huh, interesting. ]

Are you glad to have it?

[ he looks a little confused by the question. ]

Of course I am.
It's a power to protect people and that's all I wanted to do in the end.
Besides, it's mine. It means I've grown and changed.
And without it, we wouldn't have saved the world.

[ Wow... Saved the world. He supposes there are people who want to do that. ]

Some people don't like power. They find it a burden.

Would rather live an average life.

[ well. ]

I don't know, Sylus.
When I got my Persona it finally felt like there was something special about me and I had a purpose.
Things have gone back to normal now that everything's calmed down, so it's still pretty average.
But it was still something I can't find myself regretting.

And what is your purpose now?

[ Asks this 16 year-old. ]

[ excuse you he is almost 18 now. ]

Now? Just do my best to protect the people I care about.
I have a power to do so, and I've changed a lot since last year.
I think I'm better able to do it.
So I'm going to keep trying.