burningblossoms | Recolle Inbox

[He's spared. She's going to show up a few minutes after him, walking up with a smile after ordering and collecting her tea.

And heading towards one of the wooden booths that line the wall. The whole place is laid out like the inside of an old ship, and it's for that reason that she comes here. It smells old, pleasantly so, and while it's not a cat cafe or a curry and coffee house...it'll do.]

Thanks for coming.

[ Ahhh. Thank goodness he's here first. Of course he's sure she wouldn't be mad, anyway, but he doesn't like making people wait at all. Akira follows her diligently before berating himself for not ordering tea before she came here. Whatever. Later.

He seats himself in the booth, taking a good look around. While he usually thinks this would be cool, it kind of reminds him of a dream... But he can't remember it too well. When she speaks up, his attention is drawn back. A look of surprise creeps up onto his face as he waves a hand. ]

I should be thanking you—I'm the one that wanted to talk.

[Seeing him space out is a little disconcerting but she says nothing on it yet. Instead she just smiles vacantly (an act of course) and replies.]

Sure. Shadows then? What's up?

Edited 2017-11-08 21:34 (UTC)

[ Yukiko. Whether or not he can see through that smile doesn't matter. He's still worried for her. If that fake Shadow in the fog actually did represent her fears, pocked at her insecurities, it must have been unnerving to have that laid out for someone to see. ]

First... Are you really all right?

[ He leans forward a bit, scooting closer to the edge of his seat. ]

[Honestly, if it were most people? Yes, it would bother her. If it were most of the Persona group, even. But Yukiko trusts Akira, and a few others, with her secret fears. She knows she can't go it alone, and honestly she's more struck by his concern than anything. It's touching, in a way. Almost...familiar somehow, but not quite.]

Yes. I am. Really, truly.

[She looks down at her tea for a moment, nodding firmly before meeting his eyes.]

I am okay with my friends, my good friends, knowing what I'm afraid of.

All right.

[ That seems a lot more reassuring, so he drops it. How can he have any doubts after that look? He knows that she can take care of herself, but a little check up here and there won't hurt. He slides back up against his seat now. ]

But I wanted to ask... Is that something normal in your memories? I think I met a Shadow that kind of sounded like Yosuke, too. [ ... ] But not in Yosuke form.

Oh. Yes. It is normal.

[She has zero hesitation about answering that question. It doesn't even seem all that odd to her at this point.]

I saw Yosuke's Shadow too. And I've seen a few others in my memories. Including mine. Why do you ask? Is it not how you and the...[She has the sense to lower her voice.] Phantom Thieves gain your Personas?

[ HEARING IT STILL GIVES HIM A HEART ATTACK, but he knows that Haru told her. He lives, but nervously rubs his neck. ]

No... From what I've heard and remembered, it isn't. [ How should he explain it? ] We awakened ours through embracing and channeling our emotions? Rage, rebellion, disgust, forcing our eyes open to the truth—stuff like that.

[ ... ]

It seems weird to say, but it makes sense since most of us weren't in good situations.

[What she can't really understand is why it even matters. It's not like vigilantism is any less illegal. Also, he's not done anything that can get him in trouble now. Unless he's gone cat burglaring.]

Embracing and channeling your negative emotions. That's...sort of like the way it worked in my memory. My Shadow said all sorts of things about myself I wanted to deny, but when I was able to accept that, then it became my Persona.

I don't really understand the philosophy behind it, but it isn't that different. Personas come from inside, from our emotions and or psyche. That I'm sure of from what I remember. Shadows are pieces of our repressed psyche, the subconscious run amok, and in a way it makes sense that we'd deny them and rebel against them.

[Bear with her as she rambles a little.]

So...you just don't have to deal with the actual Shadow, and you have to awaken through emotion. If I understand you right? Functionally, it's the same. Embracing a darker side to force out the true, whole you to face the world.

[ They'll become vigilantes just wait— ]

Yeah, that sounds about right. For us, it felt more like breaking the chains that held us back... The side of us we kept hidden from society just to survive. It sounds pretty edgy in comparison, but it does follow the same line of thought that Personas come from accepting yourself, including negative emotions. I just found it interesting that you had to face yours...

The Shadows we face were of other people.

[ But he's not planning to disclose more. All of that he plans to wrap up with the Phantom Thieves during the meet-up. Still, it's interesting to hear perspective from someone else. ]

Did anyone else have different experiences? Like, was it mentioned before in your previous meetings.

That...does sound edgy, but at the same time, it's...weird. Because Shadows that I've seen come in two flavors. There's the ones that look like people, and then there are some that are more like twisted Personas. Symbolic and all that. They fight and then become a person, and then become a Persona. There are still other Shadows that attack us, but the people-Shadows are the source of Personas and the like.

[She considers the other question and then nods. She doesn't know much but then...]

Minako and her team. They have to use Evokers to summon their Persona. I think those deliver some sort of psychic shock that wakes up the power inside. But I don't really know. I haven't asked.

My theory right now is that there are four groups of Persona users. Minako's group, my group, yours, and Mohammed's. I've actually seen Minako in my memories, but she was in high school and I was in middle school, so I think that her group came first. Then the other two.

[ It's a lot to think about. He knows that it was implied last meeting that Shadows are tied to people, a side of them, so he wonders if it's okay to go slaughtering so many Shadows even if they don't seem to be tied to specific people.

It'd make sense if it's just Shadows that can turn into Personas, but why are there different categories? Do some just have potential, but not others? ]

Hm... I wish I knew more about Shadows from my world. Maybe I'll get something soon? Hopefully in time to share with everyone.

[ Oh, right. The gun thing. It still freaks him out when he thinks about it, but... An Evoker makes it sound cooler and easier to stomach. For now, he'll nod. It's hard to completely understand without actually using the Evoker yourself. ]

Oh. So you've actually seen her. At least it shows that there is a direct connection to some of us. I've always wondered if we might be from parallel worlds... Just based on Souji's and Yu's case.

Maybe.

[Yukiko doesn't seem too bothered by what her other self did because her other self is not her. You're not me and all that. However she tilts her head to one side at the mention of parallel realities...]

I have seen Minako. and Fuuka, actually, and Minako has seen Fuuka as well. So there's at least a link between Minako's group and mine. It's you that we haven't found a connection to yet, but then...

[She trails off and drops a hand onto his.]

In the end, it doesn't matter. We're here. All three groups. Together. That means we're all able to build off one another and become stronger and more helpful. There's not really a point in worrying about that other life until we're given a reason to worry about it. We're all friends, after all.

[ Akira is all more immersed in the theories only because they would be interesting... Even when she mentions that his friends may not be connected with the other two Persona groups, not even Mohammed's (though he thinks it's a Persona), it doesn't bother him. Instead, he's wondering what is it that destroyed their worlds?

They defeated gods and yet they lost? Humming thoughtfully, he's ready to respond till she places a hand on his and continues on. He was not ready for this kind of talk. ]

... Getting sentimental, are we?

[ HE'S EMBARRASSED. Stop. ]

No, I'm just stating a fact.

[She is a little sentimental, at all times, but the difference here is that he seems worried and distracted by something that doesn't have any real bearing on the life they have to live now]

We are here, in this world. You, me, Mohammed, Minako, and all the others. This is our world, and the reality of our situation.

[She squeezes his hand a little though.]

And maybe your senpai is a little sentimental in her old age.

Thanks, I guess... It's not like I was blurring myself with my other self or anything!

[ Baka!! Akira huffs as he looks at her straight in the air with the furrow of his eyebrows, trying to play up defiance at this sign of friendly comfort, but it falls as he laughs a bit more. The smile on his face does show deep gratitude despite his words and he hopes it conveys that. Flipping over his hand slowly, he gives hers a squeeze, too. ]

You're not even old. [ PLEAse. Mohammed is already listed and yet Yukiko is spinning the old hag card. ] But we can definitely come up with a disguise for you...

[B-baka indeed.]

Oh? [She perks up a little at the mention of a disguise. Easily shifting to the new topic, and with a teasing grin. She's glad for his gratitude but she doesn't want to push too far and make him feel like she's an overbearing senpai.]

I have a disguise!

[Reaching into her pocket with her free hand, she puts on...you guessed it.

The gag glasses.]

Aren't they great? Retrospec sent them to me.

[ At first he thinks there's no way that those glasses are a Retrospec item, but a quick flicker of his third eye shows it glowing. ]

... They really are from Retrospec. [ Squinting at them— ] They kind of remind me of the disguises Yu brought when we tailed Futaba's date.

[ THEY ARE GOOD BROTHERS ]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

[That they tailed her, not that Futaba is dating. That girl's cute. Weird as fuck but cute.]

What do you think though?

I thought my disguise was pretty good?

[ No, that isn't what she's talking about, Akira?? But it's not like it matters. It's time to rate her gag glasses. Bringing a hand to his chin, he strokes it a bit. Hmmm. ]

I can't say it makes you look older, but it does add some extra charm points overall. 10/10.

Yay!

[Even knowing he's teasing...she giggles happily. If she could only get away with these all the time...]

So. You feel better, about the Shadows and stuff?

[ Stop giggling, it makes him giggle and no one wants to hear a dude giggle. ]

Yeah. I just thought it was strange... But thanks for taking the time to talk to me. [ He fiddles with his bangs sheepishly. ] I'm going to stay here for a big since I didn't order myself some tea yet.

[ So if she has places to go, she doesn't need to worry about him. ]

[NEVER!]

Well, I'll sit with you then. we can just relax.

[She got nowhere to be and he's her friend so they can just have a chill afternoon for a bit.]

All right, give me a moment.

[ He's going to order his tea before coming back in a jiffy. When he's settled back in, he does have something else on his mind. ]

How's your club?

[ BECAUSE HE LIKES HEARING ABOUT MYSTERIES. ]

Sadly backburnered at the moment.

[Lack of interest from the game at large for one. But that's no big deal.]

We just don't have as much free time, with college.

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