001

[phantom_envoy]

[action, all Hinoto-Ri]
[Throughout the streets of Hinoto-Ri this morning, a strange phenomenon manifests itself for a good hour or two. A girl in a bizarre white costume ensemble darts and zips up and down the streets like a gigantic dove in flight, heedless of anyone or anything in her way... Although 'heedless' might be a bit of an understatement. The vast majority of the time, she flits straight through the obstruction in her past, slipping past as insubstantially as a ghost and occasionally offering apologies on the way.]

Whoops! 'Scuse me, pardon me... Totally didn't see you there. Oh, geez, I swear, food tastes totally the same afterwards; you don't have to worry about it at all. ...Well, let's be honest here, you probably didn't want that junk going down your gut, any - whoa! Watch the purse, lady. Hey, I practically did you a favor.

[Eventually, she'll slow down long enough to drift slightly closer to the ground and perform a dramatic 360 in mid-air.]

Wow. I am definitely not in Kansas anymore. ...Not that I've ever been to Kansas in the first place although I think that's where Superboy comes from, but this totally isn't Kansas, either.  ...Not enough farms.

[video, public]
[The feed flickers on to reveal a girl in a strange costume with an expression of resignation.]

Alright, ahem, listen up, fair citizens of... Prehistoria!  Here's the deal.  My name is Phantom Girl, I'm from the 31st century - yes, that's three-one - and I don't really have time to wander around some retro Asian city.  ....Wait, this is 'Asia', right?  I've only ever seen a place like this in a history book.  It is kind of cool to be back in prehistoric times again, but that's what the Time Bubble is for, and we don't use it for vacations.  And, no offense, but I wouldn't take a vacation here, anyway.  It's kind of... cramped for me.

So I hear you've got some problems that need fixing.  Spill the details, I'll take care of it, and then I'll be back to my time, if you all don't mind.  I'm sure you're all very nice people, and I know whatever you're going through must be super hard, but... I've got like, whole planets I need to be looking out for here.  Cities are great, but I'm pretty sure Takron-Galtos is having like, the 6th breakout in as many months, so... yeah. 

OK, so!  Problem number one, go.

Comments

[phantom_envoy]

I try to leave the touchy feely dream interpretation stuff to Dream Girl.

[She gives a shrug.]

Besides, it isn't as if he actually explained it in-depth or anything. What the heck is the 'sea of my soul'?

[terminally_clever]

Unnecessarily flowery language meant to describe the Jungian concept of persona. A mask that is presented to the world, meant to help one overcome hardship. In this case it's meant rather more literally.

[phantom_envoy]

...Great.

And what do I with this mask? Sharpen the edges and try to use it as a razor-edge boomerang?

[terminally_clever]

...Well, maybe not that literally. I could show you if you like.

[phantom_envoy]

That would probably be the most helpful thing anyone's done for me since I've got here, thanks.

[terminally_clever]

[Fumi nods, concentrating for a moment. A light rises from her, coalescing into the phantasmal form of a griffin-winged lion.]

This is my Persona, Vapula.

[phantom_envoy]

[Phantom Girl's reaction consists mostly of widened eyes and a step back. She blinks for a moment or two in suspicion.]

...

Whoa. OK. So... Persona just means... summoning monsters. Wow, that could have been explained a lot more easily.

And I can do this, too?

[terminally_clever]

Monsters that represent your inner thoughts and desires, after a fashion. But yes. There hasn't been a single instance of someone being brought here and not having one. They aren't active immediately upon arrival, though - they have to be awakened. The most common method for this is in a fight.

[phantom_envoy]

Hmm...

Would you hitting me on the head a few times count as a fight? I'd totally take one for the team. ...Well, I guess, for me and my Persona. That's a team, right?

[terminally_clever]

It might. I went out and got myself attacked on purpose to awaken mine, even though I was able to easily dispatch the demon myself without the Persona's assistance immediately afterward.

[phantom_envoy]

That's kind of how I feel already, actually.

[She gives a small shrug.]

The monsters here can't be much worse than the Fatal Five or anything else I run into on a regular basis.

[terminally_clever]

It largely depends on when and where you decide to be at night.

[phantom_envoy]

The whole extra hour thing? I'm wondering if I'm brave enough or stupid enough to stay up late tonight just to see what that's about.

[She gives a small shrug.]

[terminally_clever]

If you're looking to awaken a Persona, that would be the ideal time.

[phantom_envoy]

Well... I'll see how I feel about it later. Maybe that's more of a second day sort of thing.

Actually, what I could really use right now is a nap. Flying around this city panicking all day is a real drain on the energy stores, you know?

[terminally_clever]

Then you'll be pleased to know you've already been assigned a cozy government subsidized apartment in either the Libra or Pisces districts.

[phantom_envoy]

...They pay for us to be here?

Not that I'm complaining, but that seems like a good way of collapsing the economy.

[terminally_clever]

In exchange for cleaning up their monster problem, yes. It seems to be working out for them so far, anyway.

[phantom_envoy]

Eh. You'd think a city in a bubble would have collapsed a long time ago, anyway.

[Phantom Girl gives a shrug before rising a few feet into the air.]

I'm gonna go ahead and search for that cozy government-subsidized bed now. Thanks for the info.

[terminally_clever]

We'll meet again, I'm sure.